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STi! or THE MNTH KiSAS. 



The Kansas regiments during the Civil War have a disjointed and very im- 
perfect record of their service. There is a wide-spread impression that their 
service was practically limited to patroling or bushwhacking along the border, 
or leisurely camping on the plains. Because of the controversy between Governor 
Charles Robinson and Senator James H. Lane, the organizations of some of the 
regiments read like chaos. The directors of the Kansas State Historical Society, 
prompted by the military pride of the people, and their observation of the value 
of patriotic ancestry, determined to gather the story of the state's soldiery as 
complete as possible, in justice to the descendants of those who made a record 
as brilliant as that of any of the nation's defenders. Adjutant General S. M. Fox, 
who served with the Seventh Kansas during its entire enlistment and was mus- 
tered out as regimental adjutant, at the solicitation of the Society, prepared " The 
Story of the Seventh Kansas," herewith published, which shows a strenuous 
service at the front, and which it is hoped may bo an incentive and guide to the 
members and friends of other regiments. The Historical Society has the story 
of the Nineteenth, Twentieth, Twenty-first, Twenty-second, and Twenty-third, 
also well told. 



.7 



1^. 



9 



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TT 



THE STORY OP THE SEVENTH KANSAS. 



An address made before the twenty-seventh annual meeting of the Kansas State Historical 
Society December 2, 1902, by S. M. Fox,* Adjutant General. 



This is not intended to be a history, but is a sketch based, from a lack of 
sufficient records, on a memory which at times may be at fault. From the con- 
ditions the story can but be ramblicg and incomplete. The history of a cavalry 
regiment that nearly every day during its four years of active service was in the 
saddle would fill many volumes with stories of adventure and hardship and then 
be a tale half told. 

At the beginning of the civil war Kansas had just been admitted as a state, 
the machinery of government was hardly in working order and the people were 
very poor, yet when the call of the President for troops came the response was 
immediate and always in excess of every demand. Eight regiments were organ- 
ized and placed in the field during the year of 1861. Much confusion existed in 
the organization of these regiments, resulting from the action of the War Depart- 
ment at Washington in giving Senator James H. Lane authority to raise troops 
and organize regiments of volunteers in Kansas independent of State authority. 
The first two regiments were, however, practically organized before Senator Lane 
appeared, armed with a brigadier general's commission, to begin his independent 
recruiting. These two regiments had been ordered on the 23rd of May to ren- 
dezvous, one at Leavenworth and one at Lawrence. The regiment rendezvoused 
at Leavenworth was mustered into the United States service on May 30th, as 
the First Kansas Volunteer Infantry under the command of Colonel George W. 
Deitzler, and immediately ordered into the field. The Secretary of War deeming 
the draft too heavy for so young a state, hesitated about mustering in the second 
regiment. When, however. General Lane arrived in Kansas on Friday, June 7th, 
Governor Robinson sent his quartermaster general, George W. Collamore, post 
haste to Washington, who after persistent urging finally secured the following 
order : 

War Department, June 17, 1861. 
To His Excellency Charles Robinson, Oovernor of Kansas: 

Sir — This department will accept for three years or during the war, two regi- 
ments of volunteers from Kansas, in addition to the one commanded by Colonel 
Deitzler, and mustered already into service, said regiments so accepted to be the 
ones commanded by Colonels Phillips and Mitchell respectively ; and the muster- 
ing officer ordered by the Adjutant General to muster them into the service is 
hereby directed to make such requisition as may be necessary to supply them with 
arms and ammunition, clothing, &c. they may require, and also to supply any de- 
ficiency that may exist in Colonel Deitzler's regiment. 

Simon Cameron, Secretary of War. 

* Simeon M. Fox was born in Tompkins county. New York, August 28, 1842. When he 
was eleven years old he moved with his family to Elmira. He was educated in the high 
school at Elmira and the Qenessee college at Lima. His father came to Kansas in 1855, 
and located at Highland ; the mother came later, and the son remained East attending 
school. In the spring of 1861, upon the close of school, the son came to Kansas, immedi- 
ately enlisting in Company C, Sevontli Kansas regiment. He served nine months as a pri- 
vate, then was made a corporal, a regimental sergeant-major, and then first lieutenant and 
adjutant, which place he held until mustered out. At the close of the war he settled in 
Manhattan, and engaged in the book business. He was appointed Adjutant General of the 
state in 1895, serving during the administration of Governor Morrill, and was reappointed 
by Governor Stanley in 1899, serving four years. 

3) 



4 Story of the Seventh Kansas. 

The Second Kansas Volunteer Infantry was mustered into the United States 
service for three years at Wyandotte immediately thereafter, under the command 
of Colonel Robert B. Mitchell. Many recruits had enlisted in this regiment with 
the understanding that it was for three months' service, they express dissatisfac- 
tion and the regiment was finally ordered to be mustered out on October 31, 1861, 
but nearly all its members soon after joined other regiments. The Second Kan- 
sas Cavalry, organized later. May 7, 1862, was practically a new organization, al- 
though commanded by Colonel Mitchell and retaining in its ranks a number of 
the officers and men of the old Second Kansas Infantry. 

The Third and Fourth Kansas Volunteers were regiments of mixed arms, and 
were organized by General Lane; these two regiments, with the Fifth Kansas 
Cavalry, constituted what was known as "Lane's Brigade." The Third was 
mustered into the United States service at Mound City on July 24, 1861, under 
the command of Colonel James Montgomery. This regiment took the place of 
the third regiment authorized by the Secretary of War in the order of June 17th, 
previously quoted. The Fourth Kansas Volunteers was mustered into the United 
States service about the same time, under the command of Colonel William 
Weer. The Fifth Kansas Cavalry was mustered in under the command of Colonel 
Hampton P. Johnson, who was killed in action at Morristown, Mo., on September 
17, 1861, and was succeeded in command by Colonel Powell Clayton. 

The Sixth Kansas Cavalry was mustered in at Fort Scott on September 10th. 
It was commanded by Colonel William R. Judson. 

The Seventh Kansas Cavalry was mustered into the United States service as 
a complete organization at Fort Leavenworth on October 28, 1861, under the 
command of Colonel Charles R. Jennison. 

The Eighth Kansas Volunteer Infantry was organized with eight companies, 
during October, 1861, and commanded at its organization by Colonel Henry W. 
Wessels. 

It will be remembered that in June the Secretary of War was hesitating about 
authorizing a second regiment for fear of making too great a draft on a young 
and sparsely settled state, yet four months later eight regiments had been organ- 
ized and were in the field, and all this was done without one dollar being offered 
or paid by the State to secure enlistments. 

I have given this brief sketch of the eight regiments recruited in Kansas in 
1861 as preliminary to the story of the Seventh Kansas, and to show the patriotic 
conditions that existed when this regiment was organized. All these regiments 
helped to make history, and have left records of unfading glory. The First 
and Second Kansas fought on the bloody field of Wilson Creek, and their heroism 
there has given a luster to the name of Kansas that time can never dim. One 
hundred and six men was the death record of the First Kansas alone during that 
terrible day, and this regiment marched off the field in perfect order when the 
battle was lost. The Second Kansas, although not suffering so great a mortality, 
left a no less brilliant record for bravery and discipline. The Third and Fourth 
Kansas Regiments were never complete organizations, but, with the Fifth Kansas 
Cavalry, did excellent service along the Missouri border, and their presence there 
undoubtedly saved Kansas from rebel invasion when, after the dearly bought 
and doubtful victory at Wilson Creek, the confederate general. Sterling Price, 
marched north to Lexington, in September, 1861. The Third and Fourth Kan- 
sas Volunteers were broken up in February, 18()2, and assigned to other regiments. 
The infantry companies were consolidated and became designated thereafter 
as the Tenth Kansas Volunteer Infantry; the cavalry companies were trans- 
ferred to the Fifth, Sixth and Ninth Kansas Cavalry and helped to complete the 



Story of the Seventh Kansas. 5 

organization of those regiments. The Fifth and Sixth Kansas Cavalry regi- 
ments served to the end of the war in Missouri, Arkansas and the Indian Terri- 
tory with great credit, and took part in all the principal battles west of the 
Mississippi fought after Wilson Creek, The Eighth Kansas Infantry served in 
the Army of the Cumberland. The regiment lost heavily at Chickamauga, and 
was one of the first regiments to reach the summit of Missionary Ridge in the 
the famous charge of Wood's Division at the Battle of Chattanooga. 

In the absence of records it is difficult at this late date to know under whose 
authority some of these regiments of 1861 were organized. Governor Robinson 
resented the interference of the War Department in sending General Lane to 
Kansas to raise troops independent of the state government, and when General 
Lane began to recruit, and usurp what the Governor considered his constitutional 
rights, he went ahead and raised troops himself and ignored Lane as far as pos- 
sible. The Governor also made matters as uncomfortable as possible for him ; he 
started a fire in his rear by appointing Fred P. Stanton to fill the vacancy as- 
sumed to have been created in the senate when General Lane was confirmed as a 
brigadier general, and the Senator-General was given much trouble to maintain 
his seat. The First, Second, Seventh and Eighth regiments were clearly raised 
under state authority, and the Third and Fourth regiments by General Lane; 
the Fifth Cavalry while a part of Lane's Brigade was practically organized under 
state jurisdiction ; the Sixth cavalry originated under authority of General Lyon, 
who authorized the organization of several companies for the defense of the bor- 
der near Fort Scott: additional companies of the Sixth were organized by order 
of Major Prince. This action seems to have been approved by Governor Robin- 
son, and the Sixth was practically organized under state authority. 

It was natural that a state made up of the hardy settlers who came to Kansas 
to make it a free state should be patriotic. The men all had convictions, and 
they knew that the war was inevitable, and expected when the time came to take 
a hand in the game. Military companies began to report to the state government 
as eoon as Kansas became a state, and before the end of June, 1861, there was 
scarcely a hamlet in the state that did not have its military organization that 
met nearly every night for drill. Leavenworth City alone had twenty-three com- 
panies; Atchison and Doniphan county and the settled counties to the westward 
were organized and asking for arms. The border counties from Wyandotte to 
Bourbon kept their old companies, organized for the protection of the border, 
alive, and organized others in addition. All through the state, as far west as 
Junction City, these companies were drilling and preparing for the trouble to 
come. Many of these companies enlisted in the United States service in a body 
and were the nucleus of the permanent volunteer regiments. Whenever a com- 
pany so enlisted, another company was organized to take its place at home. 
There is one thing that must be said, many of the soldiers in the Kansas volun- 
teer regiments came from other states, directed here by motives that were various, 
but this class was mostly made up of men of abolition belief who wanted to help 
strike a blow at slavery in the name of Kansas. They left states where large 
bounties were being offered and enlisted in Kansas, a state too poor to pay an 
additional bounty, and composed of a class of citizens eo patriotic that no such 
inducement to enlist was ever required. 

It will be observed that the Kansas regiments were numbered consecutively 
without reference to the arm of service they represented. 

About the let of August, 1861, Governor Robinson gave authority to Dr. 
Charles R, Jennison to raise a regiment of cavalry. Something of a glamour 
surrounded Jennison in those days; he had been conspicuous as a leader in the 



6 Story of the Seventh Kansas. 

early days of border troubles and his " jayhawkers" had inflicted damage on th© 
pro-slavery sympathizers that ranged all the way from blood to loot; indeed 
he carried the latter to such an extent that the pedigree of most Kansas horses, 
it was said, should have been recorded as "out of Missouri by Jennieon." So 
when Jennison began to raise his regiment the organization became immediately 
known as "the Jayhawkers," a name that followed through its whole history, as 
the war records will show. Much conjecture as to the origin of the word "jay- 
hawker" has been indulged in; one story is that it was a modification of "gay 
Yorker," an appellation applied to Dr. Jennison when he first came to Kansas, 
he having been of sportive proclivities and hailing from the Empire State. 
There are always persons who take a great deal of trouble to explain or account 
for a very natural or commonplace thing. The predatory habits of the jayhawk 
would indicate that the name as applied to Jennison's men was singularly ap- 
propriate and one need not speculate as to what suggested the application. The 
"jayhawkers" did not certainly originate then, for as early as 1849 a little band 
of Argonauts from Illinois, who made the overland journey to California, called 
themselves "the Jayhawkers" ; they were lost in Death V^alley, and the thrilling 
story of their suffering and final rescue has often been told. I have seen it 
somewhere, but I cannot now recall where, that the name was of common appli- 
cation in Texas during the struggle for liberty, but of this I am not sure. 

Colonel Jennison was commissioned as such on September 4, 1861, and re- 
cruiting began immediately. Burning placards were posted in the villages offer- 
ing inducement in way of proposed equipment that would have made every man 
a portable arsenal. The recruit, in imagination, saw himself bristling with death 
and desolation, mounted on an Arabian barb breathing flame as he bore his rider 
to victory. All this was in strong contrast to the pitiful equipment that was in 
reality issued. 

The field and staff of the Seventh Kansas at organization was as follows : 

Colonel Charles R. Jennison. 

Lieutenant Colonel Daniel R. Anthony. 

Major Thomas P. Herrick. 

Major Albert L. Lee. 

Adjutant John T. Snoddy. 

Quartermaster Robert W. Hamer. 

Surgeon ( vacancy ). 

Assistant Surgeon Joseph S. Martin. 

Chaplain Samuel Ayers. 

Sergeant Major William A. Pease. 

Quartermaster Sergeant Eli Babb. 

Commissary Sergeant Lucius Whitney. 

Hospital Steward John M. Whitehead. 

Hospital Steward James W. Lansing. 

Chief Bugler George Goss. 

Chief Bugler John Gill. 

Company A was organized the last part of August, 1861, principally in Doni- 
phan county, although the northern tier of counties supplied recruits from as far 
west as Marshall. The original otficers were: 

Captain Thomas P. Herrick. 

First Lieutenant Levi H. Utt. 

Second Lieutenant Thomas H. Lohnes. 

The company was recruited by Captain Herrick of Highland, in conjunction 



Story of the Seventh Kansas. 7 

with Lieutenant Utt of White Cloud, and was mustered into the United States 
service at Fort Leavenworth on August 27, 1861. When the regiment was or- 
ganized on October 28, Captain Herrick was made a major, and Lieutenant Utt 
was promoted to captain, and Sergeant Aaron M. Pitts was commissioned a first 
lieutenant to fill the vacancy. Second Lieutenant Lohnes remained in his origi- 
nal grade until hie resignation, February, 13, 1862. Major Herrick became lieu- 
tenant colonel on September 2, 1862, and colonel on June 11, 1863. Captain Utt 
had served under General Lyon in Colonel Blair's First Missouri Infantry and 
was a proficient drill-master. He moulded the company, and it was through his 
first training that the company became and always remained the most efficient 
and reliable organization in the regiment ; and there is no disparagement to the 
other companies in saying this ; all were good, but Company A was a shade better. 
Let me say here that the military nomenclature of the civil war differs from the 
present, the word "troop" as now applied was not then used; "company" was, 
at the beginning of the war, applied alike to cavalry and infantry; later, in 1863, 
the name "squadron" became the designation of a company of cavalry. The 
word "squadron " as applied to cavalry, as the equivalent of "battalion " as ap- 
plied to infantry, is of much later date. 

Captain Utt was one of the most fearless men that I ever saw; when in the 
greatest hazard he seemed entirely unconscious of danger. He lost a leg at 
Leighton, Alabama, April 2, 1863, while charging a battery with his mounted 
company ; his horse was killed under him. As soon as the stub healed sufficiently, 
he out-fitted himself with a wooden leg and came back to the command of his 
company. He was promoted major, November 17, 1864, which rank he held until 
finally mustered out with the regiment. 

First Lieutenant Aaron M. Pitts was appointed captain of Company D, Oc- 
tober 3, 1862: the vacancy created was filled by the promotion of Sergeant Bazil 
C. Sanders to First Lieutenant. Second Lieutenant Lohnes resigned February 
13, 1862, and Jacob M. Anthony was appointed to the vacancy from civil life. 
On the promotion of Captain Utt to major, Lieutenant Sanders, who had com- 
manded the company while Utt was disabled by wounds, became captain, and 
under his command the company always maintained its reputation for efficiency.. 
Lieutenant Anthony was promoted to captain and assigned to Company I on 
May 16, 1863, and Sergeant Dewitt C. Taylor was promoted to the vacancy. 
Sergeant Henry C. Campbell was appointed a first lieutenant to fill the vacancy 
created by the promotion of Sanders. 

All these officers proved themselves to be brave and efficient. Lieutenant 
Lohnes was, however, a deserter from the regular army, but no question as to 
his bravery was ever raised; for cold-blooded nerve he was not often equaled. 
After his resignation he followed the regiment as far as Rienzi, Misff. From 
there he went back to Kansas and indulged in a little "jayhawking" on his own 
hook. He was captured, but while under guard at White Cloud, one cold winter 
night, when all the guards had come into the fire in an old building where he 
was confined, he raised up as if to stretch himself, and with a remark about 
hard luck, suddenly jumped through the window carrying away sash and glass. 
The guard rushed out but their prisoner had vanished. He was heard from in 
1865, and was then living in Nova Scotia. 

Company B was organized by Captain Fred Swoyer of Leavenworth; it was 
composed of men recruited in Leavenworth and Atchison counties, except about 
thirty men brought from Chicago by Lieutenant Isaac Gannett. The company 
was recruited during September, 1861, and partially organized with two officers, 
First Lieutenant Fred Swoyer and Second Lieutenant William S. Moorhouse. 



8 Story of the Seventh Kansas. 

Early in October, when Lieutenant Gannett arrived with his recruits from Chi- 
cago, the organization was completed with the following officers: 

Captain Fred Swoyer. 

First Lieutenant Isaac Gannett. 

Second Lieutenant William S. Moorhouse. 

Captain Swoyer commanded the company until he was killed, January 3, 
18613. He was succeeded by Captain William S. Moorhouse, promoted from second 
lieutenant. Lieutenant Gannett was absent from the regiment on staff duty dur- 
ing most of his term of service and lost out on promotion in consequence. Moor- 
house was succeeded as second lieutenant by Charles L. Thompson, advanced 
from first sergeant. Lieutenant Thompson deserted February 18, 1863. 

Captain Swoyer was a man of great physical courage, but exceedingly reck- 
less. In the winter of 1861-'62 he did a little steeple-chasing down Delaware 
street, in Leavenworth, and while putting his horse over a sleigh loaded with 
cord wood, standing across the street, the animal fell and broke the captain's 
leg. He limped through the rest of his life. His death was the result of his 
recklessness, but he was brave and patriotic and did splendid service while he 
jived. After the death of Captain Swoyer the company was temporarily com- 
manded by Captain Bernard P. Chenoweth, of the First Kansas Infantry, who 
was with the company for a short time; after his departure Moorhouse was 
made captain as above stated. Captain Chenoweth was a gallant officer, who 
had done splendid service at Wilson Creek with his regiment. He was very 
punctilious, and exceedingly neat in his dress; he always wore a black regulation 
hat with a long white feather trailing down his back, but you can be assured 
that, like the white plume of Navarre, it would always be seen dancing in the 
fore-front of battle when the fight was on. 

Sergeant John A. Middleton, a member of Company B, who deserted at Ger- 
mantown, Tenn., in February, 1863, gained a later notoriety; he was the des- 
perado, "Doc" Middleton, who terrorized a portion of Nebraska some twenty 
years ago. 

Company C was recruited in Leavenworth City by its first captain, William S. 
Jenkins. About twenty-five men recruited in Doniphan and Brown counties 
completed the organization. Recruiting began September 5th and the organiza- 
tion was perfected at Kansas City on October 10th, with the following officers: 

Captain William S. Jenkins. 

First Lieutenant Francis M. Ray. 

Second Lieutenant James Smith. 

Captain Jenkins commanded the company until his promotion to major, May 
27, 1863. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel, March 21, 1864, and resigned 
November 14th of same year. Lieutenant Ray resigned December 8, 1861, and 
was succeeded by First Lieutenant James D. Snoddy, appointed from civil life. 
Lieutenant Snoddy was later temporarily transferred to Company G, and left the 
service in December, 1802. Snoddy was succeeded by Lieutenant John A. Tan- 
ner, promoted from second lieutenant of Company F. Lieutenant Tanner re- 
signed July 23, 1863, and was succeeded by the promotion of Second Lieutenant 
Bay less S. Campbell. Captain Jenkins was succeeded by Captain James Smith, 
promoted from second lieutenant, July 1, 1803. Lieutenant Bayless S. Camp- 
bell, promoted from sergeant, filled the vacancy created by the advancement of 
Smith; when Campbell was promoted to first lieutenant he was succeeded by 
Second Lieutenant John H. Wildey, promoted from first sergeant. 

Captain Jenkins was an efficient officer and deserved his promotions. Lieu- 



Story of the Seventh Kansas. 



9 



tenant Ray and First Sergeant John H. Gilbert were the original drill-masters of 
the company. They had both served in the regular army, and were efficient and 
soon had the company whipped into good shape. Lieutenant James Smith, later 
captain, was a native of the East Tennessee mountains, and had an intense 
hatred for a rebel. He was a big, awkward fellow, with very light hair which he 
always wore close cropped; he never escaped the name of "Babe," given him at 
his first enlistment. He was perfectly fearless and would fight an army rather 
than retreat, and when he held the command of the company, had always to be 
watched and ordered back in a most peremptory manner or he was liable to stay 
too long. He would have died any time rather than surrender, as the story of 
his death will attest. After his discharge from the service he went to southern 
Kansas, where he jumped, or rather took possession of, a claim deserted by the 
original preemptor; a party of men who considered him an interloper rode out 
to drive him off. He did not drive, and when they opened fire he promptly re- 
turned it and killed two of their number before he himself fell. As one of the 
posse bent over him to ascertain if he was dead, he suddenly raised his pistol 
hand and sent a bullet through the brain of his inquisitive enemy, and with a 
look of grim satisfaction joined him on his unknown journey. Poor old Jim! 
His men always loved him, and when he was twice deprived of promotion by the 
appointment of officers from outside the company over him, they made it so un- 
comfortable for the intruders that they were glad to be transferred to more 
agreeable surroundings. Lieutenants Campbell and Wildey were brave men and 
made good officers. Lieutenant Campbell commanded the artillery detachment 
attached to the regiment in 1863. Ex-Governor E. N. Morrill was a member of 
this company during the first year of its service. He served as company com- 
missary sergeant until he was promoted to captain in the subsistence department. 
Company D was recruited in Bureau county, Illinois, and vicinity. It was or- 
ganized at Wyanet, by Captain Clark S. Merriman, in August, 18G1. The com- 
pany had not been assigned when it came to Fort Leavenworth on escort duty, 
and was induced to cast its fortunes with Jennison's regiment then organizing at 
that post. The company was made up of a fine lot of men and was always con- 
sidered a great acquisition. The officers at organization were : 

Captain Clark S. Merriman. 

First Lieutenant Andrew Downing. 

Second Lieutenant Isaac J. Hughes. 

Captain Merriman was promoted to major October 3, 1862, and resigned July 
13, 1863. Lieutenant Downing remained with the company until the close of hi8 
original term of service, September 27, 1864. Lieutenant Downing was writing 
poetry then as he is to-day, and I have a printed sheet of his poems of 1861, writ- 
ten under the nam drplumr, "Curley Q., Esq." Second Lieutenant Hughes 
was not a success, and resigned June 2, 1863. The vacancy created by the pro- 
motion of Captain Merriman was filled by the advancement of Lieutenant Aaron 
M. Pitts, of Company A, who commanded the company until its final discharge. 
When Lieutenant Downing was mustered out. First Sergeant William Henry was 
promoted to first lieutenant to fill the vacancy. No appointment was made to 
fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Second Lieutenant Hughes. Lieu- 
tenant Henry was an exceptionally fine officer, absolutely fearless, and, although 
a boyish-appearing, smooth-faced young fellow, had a remarkable control over 



men 



Company E was originally organized at Quincy, 111., in the month of August, 
1861, by Captain George I. Yeager. The members of the company were mostly 



10 Story of the Seventh Kansas. 

from Chicago. The company arrived at Fort Leavenworth on September 22 and 
moved immediately to Kansas City where it joined the other companies of the 
regiment recruited up to date, that were temporarily stationed there. The origi- 
nal officers were : 

Captain George I. Yeager. 

First Lieutenant Charles H. Gregory. 

Second Lieutenant John Noyes, jr. 

Captain Yeager became very unpopular with his men and he was forced to re- 
sign on October 8, 1861, and First Lieutenant Charles H. Gregory was commis- 
sioned captain and First Sergeant Russell W. Maryhugh was appointed first 
lieutenant, on October 18, 1861. Captain Gregory was promoted to major April 
8, 11861, and Second Lieutenant Noyes was promoted captain to fill the vacancy on 
May 19, 1861; the vacancy in grade of second lieutenant was never filled. First 
Lieutenant Maryhugh was mustered out October 12, 1861, by reason of the ex- 
piration of his term of service, and was succeeded by the promotion of Corporal 
Edwin T. Saunders of Company A. Captain Gregory was a man of the greatest 
bravery and dash and had the knack of doing just the right thing at just the 
proper time. His gallantry produced brilliant results and much of the credit 
earned by the regiment was due to him. Noyes and Maryhugh were both sturdy 
and reliable soldiers. Lieutenant Saunders was little more than a boy, but he 
never knew what fear was. 

Company F was organized by Captain Francis M. Malone, of Pana, 111., in 
September, 1861. The company was recruited largely in Christian county and 
vicinity. Captain Malone brought his men to Kansas and joined Jennison's regi- 
ment in October, 1861. The original officers of the company were : 

Captain Francis M. Malone. 

First Lieutenant .Amos Hodgeman. 

Second Lieutenant John A. Tanner. 

Captain Malone was promoted to major August 12, 1863, and to lieutenant 
colonel November 19, 1861, and was in command of the regiment during the 
most of its last year's service. Leutenant Hodgeman was promoted to captain 
and assigned to Company H June 23, 1863. Second Lieutenant John A. Tanner 
was promoted to first lieutenant of Company 0, and First Sergeant Edward 
Colbert was promoted to second lieutenant to fill the vacancy, October 31, 1862, 
and promoted captain October 26, 1863, and was in command of the company 
until its muster out. First Sergeant John Clark was promoted to first lieuten- 
ant October 26, 1863, and resigned February 15, 1865. First Sergeant John W. 
Moore was appointed first lieutenant July 17, 1865, and was mustered out with 
the regiment. The vacancy in the grade of second lieutenant, occasioned by the 
promotion of Lieutenant Colbert, was never filled. 

Captain Hodgeman was a brave officer and was killed in action. Captain 
Colbert had previously served in the regular army and was a good officer in the 
field. 

Company G was recruited in Linn county, Kansas, and the vicinity, by Cap- 
tain Edward Thornton, and was mustered into the United States service on Oc- 
tober 12, 1861, with the following officers: 

Captain Edward Thornton. 

First Lieutenant David W. Houston. 

Second Lieutenant Christopher C. Thompkins. 

Captain Thornton commanded the company during its full term of service. 



story of the Seventh Kansas. 



11 



First Lieutenant Houston was promoted captain of Company H, September 30, 
1862, and promoted lieutenant colonel, July 1, 1863. Lieutenant Thompkms re- 
signed February 1, 1862. Sergeant Major Harmon D. Hunt was promoted to 
first lieutenant to fill the vacancy created by the promotion of Lieutenant Hous- 
ton. Lieutenant Hunt resigned November 30, 1801, and was succeeded by First 
Lieutenant Zachariah Norris, promoted from second lieutenant January 17, 
1865. The vacancy in the grade of second lieutenant created by the resignation 
of Lieutenant Thompkins was filled by the appointment of Richard H^Ke"from 
civil life. Lieutenant Kerr was dismissed the service November 21, 1862, and the 
vacancy created was filled by the promotion of Corporal Zachariah Norris, who 
was promoted to first lieutenant as above. Private Williana A. Pease was ap- 
pointed second lieutenant to fill the vacancy. Captain Thornton was a generous 
whole-souled man, and made an excellent company commander. Lieutenant 
Zach Norris had been a soldier in the old Second Kansas Infantry, and had been 
severely wounded at the battle of Wilson Creek. , • u i ^ 

Company H was organized by Captain Marshall Cleveland of J^yhawker 
fame, and was mustered in at Fort Leavenworth on September 27, 1801, with the 
following officers: 

Captain Marshall Cleveland. 

First Lieutenant James L. Rafety. 

Second Lieutenant Charles E. Gordon. 

The original company was largely made up of members of Cleveland's old band 
of jayhawkers, that had operated along the Missouri border. Captain Cleveland 
was one of the handsomest men I ever saw ; tall and rather slender hair dark, 
beard dark and neatly trimmed. He was very neat in his dress and his carriage 
was easy and graceful. As a horseman he was superb. A stranger never would 
get the mpression from his appearance that he was the desperate character that 
he was. His real name was Charles Metz. He was a native of New lork state, 
had been a stage driver in Ohio, and had served a term in the Missouri peniten- 
tiary. After his graduation from this institution he had for a time called him- 
self 'Moore," but later settled down on to the name "Cleveland." He did not 
remain with the regiment long, he could not endure the restraint, and one even- 
ing at Fort Leavenworth the culmination came. The regiment marched out for 
dress parade, Colonel Anthony was receiving the salute and, as the regiment was 
formed, took occasion to censure Captain Cleveland for appearing ^'^^V^^'of 
light-drab trousers tucked in his boot-tops. Cleveland immediately lef his sta- 
tion in front of his company and advanced directly towards the colonel : all ex- 
pected bloodshed but it only culminated in a f«^, '^^^^^f ^^^^^"^.P"^ nd 
remarks on the part of the two officers immediately involved, and Cleveland 
nassed on. He mounted his horse and rode away to Leavenworth city and im- 
mediately sent in his resignation, and we saw him no more. He soon gathered a 
band of kindred spirits about him and began his old trade of jayhawking. He 
was quite impartial in his dealings with rebels and Union men at the last, and if 
there was any question he took the benefit of the doubt. He made his head- 
quarters at Atchison and eluded for a time all attempts to capture him; once or 
Jwice he captured the posse sent out after him and, after taking their horses and 
arms, sent them home on foot, as may be supposed, somewhat crestfallen^ He 
finally ran up against the inevitable while trying to escape across the Mara^is 
des Cygnes when pursued by Lieutenant Walker with a squad of Company E 
Sixth Kansas Cavalry ; he was shot and killed by a sergeant. He sleeps peace- 



12 Story of the Seventh Kansas. 

fully in the cemetery at St. Joseph. The headstone which marks his grave 

bears this gentle epitaph : 

"One hero less on earth, 
One angel more in heaven." 

Cleveland was succeeded in command of the company by Captain Horace 
Pardee, appointed from civil life. Captain Pardee led a strenuous life during 
the few months he was with the regiment. He was wounded at Columbus, Mo. 
He resigned May 15, 1862, and was succeeded by Captain James L. Rafety, 
promoted from first lieutenant. Rafety was dismissed August 31, 1862. Cap- 
tain David W. Houston, promoted from first lieutenant of Company G, was 
next in succession, and commanded the company until his promotion to lieutenant 
colonel, July 1, 1863. He in turn was succeeded by Captain Amos Hodgeman, 
promoted from first lieutenant of Company F, July 23, 1863. Captain Hodgeman 
died of wounds received at Wyatt, Miss., October 16, 1863. Captain Charles L. 
Wall, promoted from first lieutenant April 6, 1864, was Captain Hodgeman's 
successor, and commanded the company until its final discharge. 

The first lieutenants of the company were: James L. Rafety, promoted and 
dismissed as above; John Kendall, promoted from second lieutenant, May 15, 
1862, and dismissed the service November 22, 1862: and Charles L. Wall, pro- 
moted from second lieutenant September 1, 1862. Lieutenant Wall having been 
promoted to captain, was succeeded by the promotion of Lieutenant Samuel N. 
Ayers from first sergeant. May 28, 1864. Lieutenant Ayres resigned March 20, 
1865, and First Sergeant Wallace E. Dickson was promoted to fill the vacancy, 
and held the rank until the muster out of the company. 

The second lieutenants were : Charles E. Gordon, who resigned February 11, 
1862 : John Kendall, promoted as above ; Charles L. Wall, promoted from sergeant 
May 15, 1862, and later promoted to first lieutenant and captain; Samuel R, 
Doolittle, promoted from first sergeant September 1, 1862, and resigned March 
3, 1863. Doolittle was succeeded by Joseph H. Nessell, promoted from sergeant 
April 8, 1863. He was dismissed the service April 18, 1861, and the vacancy 
was never filled. 

Company H was made up of splendid fighting material, but did not have the 
proper discipline at first. After Cleveland's resignation many of his old men 
deserted and joined the band their old leader was organizing. When Blunt was 
made a brigadier general, Jennison, who was an aspirant for the promotion him- 
self, was highly wroth and made an intemperate speech while in camp at Law- 
rence, during which he practically advised the men to desert. That night a 
number of men, principally from Company H, took his advice and disappeared. 
Jennison himself sent in his resignation, which was promptly accepted on May 1, 
1862, and the regiment was relieved of a worthless officer. Houston, Hodgeman 
and Wall were fine officers and brought the company out in excellent shape. 
Some of the best and most daring men of the regiment were in this company. 
Captain Amos Hodgeman did much to discipline and make Company H what it 
eventually became. He was a man of great bravery, and I believe was liked by 
his men. He was dark, with a countenance that gave him an almost sinister 
appearance ; he rarely smiled and did not talk any more than necessary. He was 
mortally wounded October 10, 1863, while leading a charge at Wyatt, Miss. A 
severe fight was in progress between the cavalry forces under General Hatch and 
General Forrest. As we were forcing the rebels back, they made a determined 
stand around a log house on a ridge. A charge had been made and repulsed,. 



Story of the Seventh Kansas. 



13 



and Captain Hodgeman was leading the second assault when he fell mortally 
wounded ; he died on October 16, 1863. Hodgeman county was named after him. 
There is a pathetic story connected with his life that may here be told. After 
he joined the regiment he married a pretty young woman who served drinks in a 
Leavenworth beer hall. In the spring of 18G3 he brought her to the camp at 
Corinth, Miss., and she remained there for a number of weeks. The wives of a 
number of the other officers were there, but Mrs. Hodgeman made no attempt to 
push herself into their company; she seemed contented with her husband's so- 
ciety and busied herself in taking care of his quarters. They were very fond of 
each other and that was enough. The camp became liable to attack any day from 
Forrest, and the women were sent North. After Captain Hodgeman's death, she 
came to the regiment dressed in deep mourning and went out with her husband's 
old company under a tlag of truce, secured his body and took it away for burial. 
Soon after she entered a military hospital at Cincinnati, Ohio, as a nurse. She 
was never very robust, but she steadily performed her duties, growing a little 
less strong each day. She was always patient and gentle, and worked on until 
she could work no more. She did not have to wait long before death came to 
her as her reward. Poor Kitty Hodgeman ! There are heroes who deserve to be 
"enskied and sainted" other than those who, striving for principle, go down in 
the forefront of battle. 

One of the members of Company H has since become famous — W. F. Cody, 
-" Buffalo Bill." He entered as a veteran recruit and was mustered out with the 

regiment. 

Company I was recruited by Major Albert L. Lee in Doniphan county. 
Major Lee lived at Ellwood, opposite St. Joseph, and a number of recruits came 
from that city. Lee was made a major at the organization of the regiment, and 
on May 7, 1862, was promoted to colonel. The company was recruited in October 
and was mustered into the United States service October 28, 1861, with the fol- 
lowing officers: 

Captain John L. Merrick. 

First Lieutenant Robert Hayes. 

Second Lieutenant Edwin Miller. 

Captain "Jack" Merrick resigned November 27, 1862, and was succeeded by 
Captain Jacob M. Anthony, promoted from second lieutenant of Company A. 
First Lieutenant Robert Hayes died of disease at Corinth, Miss., September 20, 
1862, and was succeeded by the promotion of Second Lieutenant William Weston. 
Second Lieutenant Edwin Miller resigned September 27, 1862, and First Sergeant 
William Weston was promoted to the vacancy. When Weston became first 
lieutenant the grade of second lieutenant remained vacant. Company I was 
steady and reliable at all times and did splendid service; it was made up of a lot 
of unpretentious men who came promptly when needed and remained until 
orders directed them otherwise. Captain Jack Merrick was something of a 
character ; he was somewhat Falstaffian in his proportions and used to wear a 
pair of big cavalry boots that slopped down towards his heels. His oft-repeated 
phrase "If the court knows herself, and I think she do," rings in my ears yet. 
Captain Anthony, who succeeded him, was a brother of Daniel R., but he had 
been moulded from more plastic and tractable clay. He had courage and stay- 
ing qualities, and made up in persistency what he lacked in aggressiveness. He 
was an excellent company commander, and I believe that he, of all the officers 
appointed from civil life who came to the regiment after it went into the field, 
overcame the resentment of the men and served through to the end. 



14 Story of the Seventh Kansas. 

Lieutenant Weston was a quiet soldier who did his duty always and the regi- 
mental commander always knew that if he was sent to accomplish a purpose it 
would be done if within the limits of possibility. 

Company K was originally organized at Jefferson, Ashtabula county, Ohio, 
by John Brown, jr., on September 6, 1861. Captain Brown sent the company on 
to Fort Leavenworth under the command of First Lieutenant Burr H. Bostwick, 
and remained for a time in Ohio to finish the recruiting. Company K reached 
Fort Leavenworth on November 7, 1861, and was mustered into the United States 
service on November 12. The officers at the original muster were: 

Captain John Brown, jr. 

First Lieutenant Burr H. Bostwick. 

Second Lieutenant George H. Hoyt. 

Captain Brown was the son of John Brown of heroic fame. He was with the 
company very little on account of ill health; he soon found that he could not 
perform the service and resigned May 27, 1862. Second Lieutenant George H. 
Hoyt was made captain to fill the vacancy; he was jumped over a man better 
qualified in every respect for the command of the company. Hoyt had the good 
taste to resign on September 3, 1862, and Bostwick was given his deserved pro- 
motion. He commanded the company during the remainder of its term of 
service. The vacancy in the grade of second lieutenant was filled by the ap- 
pointment of Fred W. Emery from civil life. May 27, 1862. Emery was promoted 
first lieutenant and adjutant October 30 of same year, and Sergeant Thomas 
J. Woodburn was promoted to fill the vacancy in the company. Lieutenant 
Woodburn was killed in action at Coffey ville. Miss., on December 5, 1862. Ser- 
geant William W. Crane was appointed second lieutenant, August 15, 1863, and 
first lieutenant September 30 of same year, the vacancy in the grade of second 
lieutenant remaining unfilled. 

As may be supposed, Company K was made up of abolitionists of the intense 
sort. I believe that it was this company that brought the John Brown song to 
Kansas: at least I had never heard it until they sang it immediately after their 
arrival. For a while after the company joined the regiment the men would as- 
semble near the captain's tent in the dusk after "retreat" and listen to the deep 
utterances of some impassioned orator; the voice was always low and did not 
reach far beyond the immediate circle of the company, who stood with heads 
bent drinking in every word. The speaker always closed with "Do you swear to 
avenge the death of John Brown?" and the answer always came back low and 
deep, "We will, we will": then would follow the John Brown hymn, eung in the 
same repressed manner, but after the last verse of the original song was sung it 
would be followed by a verse in accelerated time beginning with, "Then three 
cheers for John l3rown, jr." This almost lively wind up of these nightly exercises 
had the same effect on me as the quickstep that the music plays immediately on 
leaving the enclosure after a soldier's burial. At first the whole regiment used 
to gather just outside of the sacred precincts and listen, but soon it ceased to at- 
tract and the company itself became too busy avenging to hold their regular 
meetinirs. 

Of the officers, Bostwick, Woodburn, Emery and Crane were all efficient. 
Captain Brown never had the opportunity to show the stuff he was made of, his 
broken health forcing him to resign very soon. Lieutenant Tom Woodburn was 
a brave, dashing fellow, with a clean-cut, attractive face ; he went gallantly to his 
death leading his company at Coffey ville. Lieutenant Fred Emery was a man of 
unusual ability and had a strong personality that would even override the regi- 



Story of the Seventh Kansas. 15 

mental commander if his opinions went counter to the adjutant's idea of matters 
in question. He was promoted to the staff department as assistant adjutant gen- 
eral, June 30, 1863. Captain Bostwick was an energetic officer and fearless of 
danger. He was quick to execute a command, and in case of a sudden attack his 
company was under arms and out to the defense before any other. Captain 
George H. Hoyt was a combination of ambition and cruel by ; posing as a defender 
of John Brown at his trial at Harper's Ferry he went after and secured a com- 
mission as an officer of the young John Brown's company. He did nothing to de- 
serve the promotion that he received over a better and more deserving man. The 
company and regiment were well rid of him when he resigned. 

These ten companies as described made up the Seventh Kansas Cavalry. At 
the beginning of the civil war the cavalry regiment of the United States army was 
a ten-company organization, and it was only after the war had progressed a year 
or two that the twelve-squadron organization was adopted. The Seventh Kan- 
sas, although making repeated efforts, was never able to secure the privilege ac- 
corded to the other cavalry regiments from the state, of recruiting the two 
additional squadrons. The numbering of the regiment as the "Seventh " was 
not done until in the spring of 1862; previous to that time the regiment desig- 
nated itself as the "First Kansas Cavalry." In December, 1861, the Governor 
in making his report to the War Department designated it as "1st Cavalry or 6th 
Regiment," and he designated Judson's regiment, which became finally the 
"Sixth Kansas Cavalry," as the "Seventh Regiment." Some time during the 
spring of 1862 the numbering was definitely fixed and Jennison's regiment be- 
came the "Seventh" and retained that designation thereafter. 

In the beginning I gave the field and staff as first organized. Many changes 
occurred during the career of the regiment. Colonel Jennison performed some 
acts worthy of commendation, conspicuous among which was his resignation. 
Jennison was succeeded by Colonel Albert L. Lee advanced from major. Some 
trouble arose at the time of Colonel Lee's appointment from an act of Lieutenant 
Governor Root, who, assuming that he was governor in the absence of Governor 
Robinson, who had gone beyond the limits of the state, issued a commission 
to Charles W. Blair, as colonel of the Seventh. Governor Robinson himself, im- 
mediately after his return, issued a similar commission to Colonel Lee. Colonel 
Blair appeared at Fort Riley, where the regiment had been stationed, one morn- 
ing just as the command was forming for its march to Fort Leavenworth, pre- 
paratory to moving South. He assumed command of the regiment, put it in 
motion towards the Missouri river and promptly disappeared. The day following 
Colonel Lee met the regiment and assumed command also ; he rode with it a 
short distance and finally ordered it into camp. He had " assembly " sounded 
and, after he had made a speech to the men, vanished also. Colonel Lee 
went directly to Washington and submitted his case to Attorney General Bates, 
who decided the contention a few weeks later in his f^vor. 

Colonel Lee ranked from May 17, 1862: he was promoted a brigadier generaJ 
November 29th of the same year. He won his star at Lamar, Mies., where the 
Seventh Kansas alone, although two miles from any supports, attacked Colonet 
Jackson's confederate cavalry division over four thousand strong, and routed 
them with great loss. Colonel Lee was succeeded by Colonel Thomas P. Herrick, 
who had passed through the successive grades of captain, major, and lieutenant 
colonel. Colonel Herrick was not an officer as impetuous as Lee, but he was 
brave, and a safe and judicious commander and an excellent disciplinarian. He 
was a lawyer of fine ability, and was in demand when a detail for court-martial 



16 Story of the Seventh Kansas. 

service was required. He died of cholera not long after his discharge from the 
military service. After Colonel Herrick left the service, the regiment was com- 
manded by Lieutenant Colonel Francis M. Malone, until the final discharge of 
the command. 

Lieutenant Colonel Daniel R. Anthony commanded the regiment during 
its early service; ColonelJennison was nominally in command part of the time, 
but he was too busy playing poker over at Squiresville, or elsewhere, to find 
time to take the field in person. Colonel Anthony was equal to the occasion, 
and the regiment led the strenuous life while he exercised his authority. He 
resigned September 3, 18G2. The succeeding lieutenant colonel was David W. 
Houston, who retired from the service on account of disability, February 1, 
18Gi. Major William S. Jenkins was promoted lieutenant colonel March 27, 1863, 
and resigned November li, 1864. Lieutenant Colonel Francis M. Malone was 
next in succession, and held the grade until the regiment was discharged. 

The majors who served with the Seventh Kansas were, Daniel R. Anthony, 
Thomas P. Herrick, and Albert L. Lee, accounted for above. Major John T. 
Snoddy followed next; he was promoted from adjutant, July 22, 1862, and re- 
signed March 6, 1863, on account of ill health. He died April 2i, 1864. Next in 
succession was Clark S. Merriman, promoted from captain of Company D ; he re- 
signed July 13, 1863, and was succeeded by William S. Jenkins, who was pro- 
moted to lieutenant colonel March 21, 1864. Major Francis M. Malone came 
next; he became lieutenant colonel November 19, 1864. Majors Charles H. Greg- 
ory and Levi H. Utt were the last and were mustered out with the regiment. 
Gregory was an officer of especial brilliancy and dash and performed many acts 
of distinguished bravery. He had splendid judgment and never failed of success 
when he made an attack. It was to his dash the regiment owes much for its 
victory over Jackson at Lamar. Major Utt was also brave to a fault; he had no 
conception of what fear was, and yet was watchful and a safe officer. He lost a 
leg at Leighton, Alabama. 

Lieutenant John T. Snoddy was the first adjutant. He was succeeded by 
Lieutenant Fred W. Emery who was promoted to the staff department. The va- 
cancy was not regularly filled, but Lieutenant Harmon D. Hunt acted until the 
promotion of Sergeant Major Simeon M. Fox to the position which he tilled un- 
til the regiment was discharged. Lieutenant William O. Osgood was battalion 
adjutant for a time but was mustered out by order of the War Department in 
the fall of 1862. 

The quartermasters of the regiment were Robert W. Hamer, Ebenezer Sny- 
der and James Smith who filled the position successively in the order named. 

Lucius Whitney was the original commissary and held the position during the 
full term of service. 

Major Joseph L. Wever was the first regular surgeon ; he resigned June 7, 
18G4, and was succeeded by Major Joseph S. Martin, promoted from assistant 
surgeon. Martin was the original assistant surgeon and on promotion, July 18, 
1864, was succeeded by Lieutenant Joel J. Crook. 

The chaplains were Samuel Ayers, who resigned August 31, 1862, and Charles 
H. Lovejoy, appointed April 19, 1863, and discharged with the regiment. 

When Price moved north to the capture of Lexington, Mo., all available troops 
were pushed forward to the defense of Kansas City. Companies A, B and C being 
organized, were hurried to Kansas City from Fort Leavenworth and remained 
there until all danger had pas.sed; they were later joined by Company E and I 
believe by some of the other companies as rapidly as organized. After Price had 



Story of the Seventh Kansas. 17 

begun his retreat these companies were returned to Fort Leavenworth by river 
transport. October 28, 1861, all companies having been recruited, the regiment 
was regularly organized. Company K was not present but was on its way from 
Ohio ; it arrived November 7 and was assigned its designating letter. The regi- 
ment was mounted and equipped at once ; the equipment was disappointing how- 
ever as pertains to carbines; Companies A, B and H received the Sharp's carbine 
but the other companies had at first to content themselves with nondescript 
weapons that ranged from the obsolete horse-pistol mounted on a temporary stock, 
to the Belgian musket. Later the Colt's revolving rifle was issued to the seven 
companies, and it was not until the last year of the war that the regiment was 
uniformly outfitted with the Spencer carbine. The Seventh Kansas as soon as 
the equipment was completed marched south and went into camp near Kansas 
City, Companies A, B and H on the Majors farm, located about four miles south- 
east of Westport, and the rest of the regiment on O. K. creek. 

On the evening of November lOtii Colonel Anthony received information that 
the rebel colonel, Upton Hayes, was in camp on the Little Blue about thirteen 
miles out. He at once moved with parts of Companies A, B and H and surprised 
the camp early on the morning of the llth. The enemy was driven out and the 
camp captured, with all the tents, horses and wagons. The rebels however re- 
treated to an impregnable position among the rocks beyond and made a stand; 
they numbered nearly three hundred and Colonel Anthony had but one hun- 
dred and ten men. The attempt to drive the enemy from the rocks cost the 
Jayhawkers nine men killed and thirty-two wounded. The camp was destroyed 
and our boys retreated bringing ofif the captured property. The fighting was most 
desperate and lasted several hours, and although not entirely successful caused 
Upp. Hayes to retire from the neighborhood, and moreover showed the fighting 
qualities of the regiment to be all that could be desired. 

From Kansas City the regiment marched back towards Leavenworth and 
went into camp at a point about nine miles south of the city. This camp wa» 
named "Camp Herrick," after the major. Here the first pay was received. 
Camp was bi-oken soon after, and the regiment returned to the vicinity of Kansas 
City and went into camp on the Westport road, just north of the old McGee 
tavern, and scouted the country in that section. Independence was raided and 
the citizens were given a little touch of the misfortunes of war. Colonel An- 
thony made a characteristic speech to the citizens, who had been rounded up 
and corralled in the public square.* The secession spirit, which had been ram- 
pant in Independence since Price's raid on Lexington, was much subdued after 
this expedition. The regiment moved from Kansas City and was camped at In- 
dependence, Pleasant Hill, and West Point, in the order named, scouting and 
making it uncomfortable for the guerrillas in the vicinity. On December 2-4Lh the 
command moved from West Point to Morristown, arriving there after night. It 
was a bitter cold day, and the march was made in the face of a blinding storm. 
Camp was made in the enow and an uncomfortable night was passed. The win- 
ter of 1861-'62 was spent in tents. New year's day was devoted to a raid out into 
the vicinity of Rose Hill and Dayton. The latter town was burned. 

On January 5, 1862, a foray was made into Johnson county, Missouri, by a bat- 

* Brittou, in his "Civil War on the Border," attempts to give an account of this raid on 
Independence. He fixes the date as the latter part of September, and places tlie command 
of the expedition under Colonel Jeunison, whom he accredits with the speech at the court- 
house square. The facts were that the Seventh Kansas was not organized at that time. Th» 
raid was towards the middle of November, and under the command of Colonel D. R. Antliony. 
Colonel Anthony made the speech at Independence. Colonel Jennison was not present, nor 
was he in personal command of the Seventh Kansas (or First Kansas Cavalry, as then 
known ) while doing active service in Missouri at any time while he was colonel of the 
regiment. 



18 Story of the Seventh Kansas. 

talion under command of Major Herrick. His force wa9|composed of Companies 
A, B, D, and F. The battalion went into camp at Holden and detachments 
were sent out to scout the country in different directions. Company A went to 
Columbus and camped for the night; a considerable force of the enemy was in 
the neighborhood, but as Captain Utt was on the alert they did not attempt to 
attack. After Company A had moved out Company D came up and occupied 
the town. As Captain Merriman was leaving the village his company was fired 
on from ambush and five men killed, and he was compelled to retreat. Soon 
after Captain Utt, learning of the disaster, returned to Columbus, buried the 
dead and burned the town. He remained in the vicinity until nightfall, but the 
rebels failing to attack, he moved with his company back to Holden. Two days 
later the entire detachment returned to Morristown. 

On January .31st the Seventh Kansas marched to Humboldt, Kan., where on 
arrival camp was established until March 25th. On this date the regiment broke 
camp and moved to Lawrence, remaining thjpre until April 22d. From Lawrence 
the command proceeded, via Topeka and route south of the Kaw, to Fort Riley, 
where it was joined by Mitchell's brigade of infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The 
orders were to move to New Mexico as soon as grass had started sufficient for 
grazing. On May 18th, however, this order was countermanded and the entire 
brigade ordered to march to Fort Leavenworth and from thence to move by river 
transports to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn. The command embarked at Fort Leav- 
enworth on May 27th and 28th, and was carried as rapidly as possible to its 
destination. The landing was made at the Shiloh battle ground and the boys 
were permitted to see the wreck and desolation that resulted from the great 
battle recently fought. 

A pleasant incident occurred here that will always cling to my memory. 
While at Morristown, Mo., the regiment had been brigaded with a battalion of 
the Seventh Missouri Infantry under Major Oliver. While coming up the Ten- 
nessee river our leading transport, "The New Sam. Gaty," had had a race with 
another river steamboat, and our boys in their zeal had burned up all their "sow 
belly " to assist in getting up steam. When we arrived at Pittsburg Landing we 
were hungry and out of rations. An infantry soldier on the levee, who was of 
the Seventh Missouri and one of our old comrades, discovered this condition and 
went running down the levee yelling that the Jayhawkers were there hungry and 
out of grub. In half an hour a formal invitation to dinner came, and the entire 
boat load was fed. The Seventh Missouri had divided their rations and I have 
no doubt went hungry in consequence. 

As our army had occupied Corinth on May 30th, the pressing need for cavalry 
had passed and the regiment was once more ordered on board transports and 
carried down the river and around to Columbus, Ky. From Columbus it moved 
south on June 7, as a guard for the working parties occupied in repairing the 
Ohio and Mobile railroad to Corinth. While performing this duty the regiment 
was camped for a time at Union City, and while there Colonel Anthony, in the 
absence of General R. B. Mitchell, was in temporary command of the brigade. 
During this time he took the opportunity to issue his celebrated ord&r, dated 
June 18, 1862, and containing the following language: "Any officer or soldier of 
this command who shall arrest and deliver to his master a fugitive slave shall be 
summarily and severely punished according to the laws relative to such crimes." 

General Mitchell, on returning, ordered Colonel Anthony to rescind this or- 
der. Colonel Anthony refused, stating that as he had been relieved from com- 
mand he had no authority to countermand a brigade order. General Mitchell 
then said hotly, " I will place you in command long enough for you to rescind 



Story of the Seventh. Kansas. 19 

it." Anthony then asked "Am I in command of the brigade?" General 
Mitchell replied "Yes." Then said Colonel Anthony, "You, aa an officer with- 
out command, have no authority to instruct me as to my duties." If this order 
was ever rescinded it was not Colonel Anthony who did it. It will be remem- 
bered that the Government was handling the question of slavery very gingerly in 
the early part of the war and every encouragement was being given Kentucky to 
maintain her attitude of non-seceseion. Colonel Anthony was deprived from 
command but remained with the regiment until September 3, 1862, when his 
resignation was accepted. Major Herrick succeeded Colonel Anthony and com- 
manded the regiment until Colonel Lee returned to relieve him. 

There was an incident consequent on this order of Colonel Anthony's that 
should not be lost to history. The regiment was marching towards Corinth 
when, on July 3rd, late in the afternoon, tired and dusty, it entered Jackson, 
Tenu. General John A. Logan was just convalescing from wounds received at 
Shiloh, and was in command of this post. While the regiment was halted in a 
shady spot at the south part of town waiting for details to fill canteens at a well 
near by, an aide-de-camp rode up and said, "General Logan orders this regiment 
moved immediately outside his lines," and rode away. The regiment did not 
move with any great degree of alacrity, and was standing to horse still, waiting 
for the canteens to be tilled some twenty minutes later, when the same aide-de- 
camp dashed up in great wrath and said, "General Logan orders this d 

abolition regiment outside his lines or he will order out a battery and drive it 
out." The men at once passed along the word and were in the saddle instantly, 
and the answer came promptly back, "Go and tell General John A. Logan to 
bring out his battery and we will show him how quick this d^ abolition regi- 
ment will take it." The officers tried to move the regiment, but the men sat 
grim and silent and would not stir. No battery appeared, and finally a com- 
promise was made; the regiment was moved around General Logan's head- 
quarters by a street to the rear, and marched back past his front door with the 
band playing "John Brown." The command moved out and camped on a 
stream just south of town, but inside of General Logan's lines. 

General Logan was no doubt incensed over Colonel Anthony's order and other 
conditions were irritating to him. As soon as the Jayhawkers arrived in the 
South it became the immediate custom for all depredations committed by other 
troops to be done in their name, and in consequence the Seventh Kansas was 
compelled to bear opprobrium largely undeserved. The men averaged with the 
men of other regiments, and were no better or worse as far as honesty went, but 
at this time they were bearing the aggregated transgressions of regiments from 
other states. A day or so previous the Second Illinois Cavalry had broken into 
the railway station at Trenton, Tenn., and had appropriated a considerable 
quantity of sugar; Company A of the Seventh Kansas came up later and also 
augmented their supply of sweetness. Really not a hundred dollars' worth of 
sugar was taken altogether, but the owner made a great outcry and complained 
through General Logan to General Grant. In September when the paymaster 
came to pay the troops the Seventh Kansas was informed by a messenger from 
General Grant that if the men would voluntarily consent to the stoppage of two 
dollars against the pay of each man to reimburse for this sugar, the men would 
receive their money, otherwise they would not be paid. It was disrespectful, 
but word went back by the messenger for "General Grant to go to hell." The 
stoppage would have amounted to over fifteen hundred dollars and no claim had 
been made on the Second Illinois Cavalry, who were the principal aggressors. 



20 Story of the Seventh Kmisas. 

The regiment finally received its pay, but it was nearly nine months later when 
the paymaster made the disbursement. 

The First Kansas Infantry served with the Seventh in the Sixteenth Army 
Corps for some time and, of course, sympathized with us, but we never knew how 
far this sympathy extended until late in the year. While General Grant was 
making his attempted move toward Vicksburg by way of the Mississippi Central 
railroad, one morning as the infantry column was moving south out of Oxford, 
Miss., the line of march carried it by General Grant's headquarters, and the 
general himself was sitting on the front veranda smoking and viewing the troops 
as they passed. Each regiment as it came up was wheeled into line and gave 
three cheers for the "hero of Donelson." As the First Kansas passed the 
same program was attempted. The evolution was made all right, but when the 
cheers were ordered not a sound followed; the men looked up at the sky or away 
towards the distant landscape, but never at the general, and their lips remained 
closed. However, as they broke into column and were being led away by their 
discomfited commander, an old ram in an adjacent corner lot lifted up his voice 
in a characteristic bleat; the men took it up, and as they marched away down 
the street plaintive "baas" came back to the ears of the great general. 

The regiment arrived at Corinth, Miss., on June 10 and went into camp ta 
the eastward of the town, at Camp Clear Creek. The line of march to camp led 
by the extensive infantry camps, and the usual interest was manifested. The 
Jayhawkers were something of a curiosity, and as soon as it became known what 
this passing cavalry regiment was the road was lined by infantry soldiers. The 
usual badinage was attempted by the lookers-on, but no response was elicited — 
the Seventh Kansas rode by with their faces set straight to the front, apparently 
oblivious to the surroundings; they might have been passing through the desert 
as far as any expression of their countenances indicated. The jokes grew fewer 
and finally ceased entirely, and the infantry men became only silent lookers-on. 

As the rear of the regiment passed one big sergeant said, " I '11 be d ." That 

was the only remark that came to our ears. I mention this, for it was a charac- 
teristic of the regiment to ignore surroundings of this nature. 

Colonel Lee took command of the regiment on the 17th of July and on the 
20th marched it to Jacinto and from thence to Rienzi, Miss., arriving there on 
the 23rd. Rienzi was the extreme southern outpost of the northern army. The 
Seventh Kansas was assigned to the second brigade of the Cavalry Division ; 
Colonel Philip H. Sheridan was our brigade commander: he, was at that time a 
diminutive specimen and did not weigh more than a hundred and ten pounds. 
When he later was transferred to the Army of the Cumberland, Colonel Lee 
became commander of our brigade. General Gordon Granger commanded the 
Cavalry Division. The camp of the Seventh Kansas was at this post until its 
evacuation, September 30th. Typhoid fever was prevalent, nineteen deaths re- 
sulting in the regiment during a period of about a month. The confederate army 
lay about twenty miles to the south with their advance outposts at Baldwyn and 
Guntown, and our cavalry was constantly in the saddle. Skirmishes were fre- 
quent between opposing scouting parties and Colonel Lee showed himself to be a 
dashing and capable cavalry officer. Colonel Sheridan led us on many dashing 
expeditions and raids were made into Ripley and through the enemy's lines at 
Marietta and Bay Springs. At the latter place the confederate camp was cap- 
tured and destroyed. 

A detachment of the Seventh Kansas had a lively skirmish with a guerrilla 
leader, who bore the Teutonic name of Funderberger ; the affair was always 
known in the regiment as "the battle of Funderberger's lane." It was a dash- 



Story of the Seventh Kansas. 21 

ing, picturesque engagement, fought at dusk and after dark, and the flashing of 
small-arms was exciting and beautiful. It was a running fight and Funderber- 
ger was driven down the lane badly beaten. 

On August 26th Faulkner's rebel cavalry drove in our pickets under Captain 
Eaton of the 2d Iowa Cavalry, who were guarding the Ripley road, and charged 
in nearly to our camp. Most of the command was out on a scout to the south 
and matters looked a little dubious for a few minutes. The "sick, lame and lazy" 
however rallied and drove them off. All available men were mounted and started 
in pursuit: the enemy was routed and pursued for ten miles. The next day 
Captain Malone with his compaoy (F) was attacked while scouting on the Kos- 
suth road; he lost four men killed and eight wounded, one of the wounded men 
dying afterwards. The company rallied and charged the enemy, routing him. 
Our dead and wounded were recovered and the confederates lost three killed. 
The dead were buried and the wounded brought off the field. About this time 
Colonel Sheridan received his promotion as brigadier general and went to Ken- 
tucky with Grainger's Division and Colonel Lee assumed command of the bri- 
gade. Companies B and E took part in the battle of luka, fought on the 19th of 
September, the remainder of the regiment operating on our right flank. General 
Rosecrans said in his report: " I must not omit to mention the eminent services 
of Colonel Du Bois commanding at Rienzi, and Colonel Lee, who with the Sev- 
enth Kansas and part of the Seventh Illinois Cavalry assured our flank and rear 
during the entire period of our operations." Colonel Lee had not only to guard 
the flank of Rosecrans' army but he had to prevent the enemy moving on Cor- 
inth, then almost denuded of troops. 

After the battle of luka the confederates began to organize for a movement 
against Corinth. Reinforcements were rushed to them, and the first of October 
their advance began. The Seventh Kansas operated on their right flank and 
harassed the movements of the confederates, participating in several sharp 
skirmishes. On the night of October 3d the regiment entered Corinth by the 
Kossuth road in time to take part in the terrible battle of the next day. When 
the regiment entered, it was supposed the Kossuth road lay a half mile to the 
right of the confederate flank. Lovell, who commanded their right, had, after 
dark however, extended hie lines across the road, it being the confederate plan 
to open the battle in the morning by an attack by Lovell on College hill. He did 
not want to expose the new disposition of his troops, so let us pass through his 
lines, expecting to have us the next day anyhow. It was a bright moonlight 
night, and the way appeared innocent enough, but Lovell could have swept us 
out of existence any moment with the artillery and musketry masked in the brush 
along our line of march. The Seventh Kansas operated mostly on our left flank, 
and were deployed in the abattis as sharpshooters. The regiment was conspicuous 
in the pursuit until it ended at Ripley; it took part in many sharp skirmishes, 
repeatedly defeating Baxter's rebel cavalry brigade and capturing many prisoners. 

The night we entered Ripley during the pursuit. Captain Houston, with Com- 
pany H, was stationed as picket on the road leading south from town. Suspect- 
ing a move on the part of the enemy, he caused a fire to be built and arranged 
dummies in imitation of soldiers lying asleep about the smouldering embers, 
and then posted his company in the brush down the road. Sure enough, about 
two o'clock in the morning a confederate company came stealing up the road and 
deploying, moved silently on their supposed sleeping victims. Houston noise- 
lessly deployed his company in their rear and stealthily followed. At the proper 
distance the confederates drew a bead on the dummies and the captain exult- 
ingly demanded a surrender. "Had you not better surrender yourself?" said 



22 Story of the Seventh Kansas. 

Captain Houston, quietly; the startled confederates turned and discovered a 
line of Yankee carbines, with a man behind each one, drawn level at their heads. 
They promptly obeyed Captain Houston's injunction and surrendered. It was 
a neat job and resulted in over forty prisoners, including several officers. 

Referring to prisoners, I wish to record here that the entire number of the 
Seventh Kansas made prisoners of war during over four years of active service 
would not aggregate a score, and in but one instance was ever more than one 
taken at one time. The exception was Lieutenant Osgood, and, I believe, two 
men, picked up near Rienzi, Miss., in the fall of 1862. Several times were squads 
and companies nearly surrounded by superior numbers, but they fought their 
way out and made their escape. 

On its return from the pursuit the regiment went into camp for a few days 
east of Corinth, on the Farmington road. From this point a raid was made 
across Bear creek into Alabama as far as Buzzard Rooet station. Roddy's com- 
mand was met and driven back, badly whipped. A most gallant act was per- 
formed here by Sergeant Alonzo Dickson and three men of Company H, who led 
the advance. As they came in sight of the confederate outpost, although it con- 
sisted of about fifteen men, they at once dashed forward, and the rebels mounted 
their horses and fled in a panic. Dickson and his squad pursued them over a 
mile, killing over half of their number and capturing several; but two or three 
escaped. 

On the return of the regiment from this expedition, it received orders to 
move to Grand Junction, where General Grant was concentrating an army for a 
movement against Vicksburg. The confederate army, under General Pember- 
ton, was encamped along the Cold Water about twenty miles to the south. On 
November 8th a reconnoisance in force was made under the command of General 
McPherson towards Hudsonville. The Seventh Kansas led the advance on the 
main road and moved about two miles ahead of the infantry column. Near La- 
mar it came on the flank of the confederate cavalry division under the command 
of Colonel Jackson, General Pemberton's chief of cavalry. Captain Gregory, 
who held our advance with his company (E), immediately attacked, and was fol- 
lowed by an assault by the whole regiment. The confederates were completely 
routed and fled, leaving their dead and wounded and many prisoners in our hands. 
They left thirty-six dead and four or five hundred prisoners, many severely 
wounded, and nearly two thousand stand of arms. The glory of this victory will 
appear more pronounced when it is understood that the attack was made by one 
small regiment numbering about six hundred men, nearly two miles away from 
any support, and against a division numbering four thousand. This defeat 
caused the retreat of the entire confederate army to a point below Holly Springs, 
and the victory gave Colonel Lee his star. The regiment advanced the same 
evening to the enemy's lines and drew his artillery fire, but his cavalry were too 
badly demoralized to offer any opposition. On the return to the camp at Grand 
Junction, the regiment was received by the infantry with cheers. 

November 27, 1802, the advance of the army began. The Seventh Kansas led 
the advance of the main infantry column and on the morning of the 28th charged 
into Holly Springs, capturing the pickets on the Hudsonville road, routing the 
garrison and driving the confederates beyond the town. The regiment was given 
the yjost of honor and held the extreme advance most of the time during the for- 
ward movement, fighting almost constantly from dawn until well into the night, 
and then finding rest disturbed by the playful shells which the enemy would ex. 
plode over its exposed bivouac. The confederates contested every foot of the way 
between Holly Springs and the Tallahatchie with cavalry and artillery, but the 



Story of the Seventh Kansas. 23 

Seventh Kansas steadily pushed them back. Ten miles below Holly Springs a 
confederate force supporting a twelve-pound gun was charged and the gun cap- 
tured. The enemy finally retired within their fortifications that stretched along 
the Tallahatchie river and as the Jayhawkers came within range of their big 
guns proceeded to give them the benefit of the concentrated fire of some forty 
siege pieces. Half an hour later, when the infantry supports came up, the First 
Kansas Infantry led the advance. They came on at the double quick and as they 
piled their blankets and knapsacks and deployed in the field beyond our left 
each company would give hearty cheers for the Jayhawkers and the Jayhawkers 
returned them as heartily, telling them to "Give 'em Wilson Creek." Shells 
were bursting overhead or ricochetting across the fields, and the Seventh was 
much relieved when the infantry came up, and it was especially pleasing to have 
this splendid fighting regiment from our home state come to our support. Sev- 
eral times during this advance would we see an infantry regiment away across 
the fields tossing their caps in the air and cheering ; we knew that it was the 
First Kansas, who by some infallible means always recognized their brothers from 
home and sent them greeting. 

At nightfall the infantry fell back out of range, and left the Seventh to picket 
the advance line. During the night scouts were sent forward, Sergeant Henry, 
of Company D, with two men, crept within the forts on the left of the road, 
and confirmed the svispicion that the confederates were evacuating. Ser- 
geant Wildey and one man of Company C crawled through their pickets and 
across a cotton field on the right to the vicinity of the bridge, and returned with 
a confirmation of the report. At daylight the Seventh Kansas advanced and 
found the earthworks dismantled, the enemy in full retreat, and the bridge over 
the Tallahatchie destroyed. Again the Jayhawkers led the advance on the main 
road. It had rained heavily during the night and the roads were very muddy, 
but that did not delay to any great extent. The enemy's rear guard was struck 
soon, but was easily pushed back until within a mile of Oxford, where they were 
reinforced, and a strong stand was made, supported by one piece of artillery. They 
opened at short range with double shotted canister, and did considerable damage 
to the oak undergrowth. Lieutenant James Smith led Company C in a charge 
directly against the artillery, but they were handling the gun by fixed prolong 
and succeeded in dragging it out of reach. At the edge of town the entire regi- 
ment dismounted and deployed for the final rush; first, however. Captain 
Swoyer led Company B in a mounted charge in column down the main street, 
but meeting a heavy fire from the public square, was forced to retire. When the 
formation was complete the order to advance was given, and the men went in 
with a yell. Strong opposition was met, especially at the court house square, 
but this force, seeing that they would be flanked, fell back with the rest, leaving 
a number of dead and prisoners in our hands. During the fight a man was 
noticed standing on the observatory of a large house watching our advance 
through a field-glass. A bullet fired at him struck the railing near by. He dis- 
appeared, and in a few minutes was seen galloping away to a place of safety. 
That man was the Honorable Jacob Thompson, formerly Secretary of the Inte- 
rior under President Buchanan. 

The next day the regiment pushed forward as far as Water Valley, skirmish- 
ing the entire distance and capturing nearly a thousand prisoners who were 
straggling behind the retreating army. Late in the afternoon a captured drum- 
mer boy was trudging back along our column to take his place with the other 
prisoners : " Where are you going, Johnny ?" was asked him ; " Back to the rear 
to beat roll call for Pemberton's army," was his prompt answer. That evening. 



24 Story of the Seventh Kansas. 

as the regiment was formed in a hollow square around the prisoners, our boys, 
who had supplied themselves with a bountiful store of tobacco at the expense of 
the Oxford merchants, discovered that the prisoners were destitute and fainting- 
for a "chaw of stingy green," and so began to pitch whole plugs of "flat," which 
was a luxury, to the suffering Johnnies. It created a transformation, despond- 
ency disappeared and contentment took its place; three cheers for the Jay- 
hawkers were given with a gusto, and the little drummer boy of the afternoon 
came forward and regaled the regiment with the rebel version of the "Happy 
Land of Canaan," a song much in vogue during the first years of the war. One 
verse still clings to my memory : 

"Old John Brown came to Harper's Ferry town, 
Old John Brown was a game one, 
But we led him up a slope, and we let him down a rope, 
And sent him to the Happy Land of Canaan." 

That night the regiment picketed the main road at the burning bridge across 
the Otuckalofa. Fording the river early in the morning the pursuit was con- 
tinued, the Seventh Kansas still leading the advance. Sharp skirmishing con- 
tinued during the day until after noon, when the resistance grew lighter. The 
cavalry had pressed forward nearly thirty miles in advance of the infantry sup- 
ports and the enemy, cognizant of this, had prepared a surprise. About a mile 
north of Coffeyville, Lovell's infantry division had been posted in the timber 
with two six-gun batteries masked in the brush, and a large cavalry force on 
each flank. Companies A, G, I and K, deployed as skirmishers, were advancing 
dismounted across an open field when they were received by a withering volley 
from the rebel infantry and artillery. These companies fell back to the belt of 
timber in the rear and rallied on Company C coming forward in support; the 
five companies then fell slowly back, contesting the confederate advance every 
inch of the way across a field to the rear until our main line, which was rapidly 
forming along the edge of the timber on the next slope, was reached. The con- 
federates numbered from eight to ten thousand, supported by two batteries, 
while the Union forces were scarcely four thousand dismounted cavalry with but 
two twelve-pound guns, and entirely without reserves; yet our position was 
maintained for over half an hour, and until the confederate force had swung 
around our flanks and had us nearly surrounded. Our loss was heavy but that 
of the Southerners very much greater. The Seventh Kansas, with detachments 
of other regiments, made a fine stand at a bridge across a deep stream to the 
rear and repulsed the final charge of the rebels. The entire command fell back 
to Water Valley. 

The battle of Coffeyville was fought on December 5, 1862. Our regimental 
loss was eight killed and about forty wounded. Lieutenant Tom Woodburn, a 
gallant officer, fell at the head of his company ; Lieutenant Colbert was wounded 
and Colonel Lee's horse was wounded beneath him. We lost no prisoners. Our 
artillery supported by the Seventh Kansas was served until the charging confed- 
erates were within a hundred feet of the muzzles and then was successfully 
dragged away at fixed-prolong with a sergeant riding the last gun, facing to the 
rear with his thumb to his nose at the eluded rebels, who sent a shower of bul- 
lets after him. 

The report of the confederate general says: "The tactics of the enemy did 
them great credit." Among our dead was Private Francis Schilling, a German 
of fine education and great refinement. He came to Kansas from Chicago and 
joined the Seventh Kansas, led hither by his extreme abolition belief. He was a 



Story of the Seventh Kansas. 25 

frequent correspondent of the Chicago Tribune. He fell with his face to the foe, 
dying for a principle, if ever a man did during the history of this world. 

The cavalry division fell back to the Yocknapatalfa and encamped at Prophet 
bridge. From this point Company A scouted back to the vicinity of the Coflfey- 
ville battle field and secured information of the raid against our line of commu- 
nication, just starting under the leadership of the rebel general, Van Dorn. 
Securing complete details of the movement, the company returned rapidly and re- 
ported to Colonel Dickey. He received tbe report with incredulity and neglected 
to re|)ort to General Grant until eight hours later. When General Grant finally 
received the information he instantly ordered all the cavalry by forced marches 
to Holly Springs. The Seventh Kansas moved out in advance and rode the forty 
miles with scarcely a halt, and with jaded horses reached Holly Springs at about 
ten o'clock the next morning, in advance of all the rest, but about an hour after 
the rebels had destroyed the vast amount of supplies stored there, and had moved 
north. The delay of Colonel Dickey had been fatal. Had he sent the informa- 
tion forward without delay, reinforcements would have easily reached Holly 
Springs in time to have beaten oflf Van Dorn and saved the town with millions of 
dollars' worth of stores. The regiment immediately pushed north to Bolivar, Van 
Dorn's next objective point, reaching there in advance of the rebel raider. The 
garrison was small but a determined show of force was made and Van Dorn 
feared to attack, and immediately began a hasty retreat. The Seventh Kansas 
followed, constantly skirmishing with him until he passed south of Pontotoc. 

The regiment returned to Holly Springs and on the 31st of December moved 
north to Moscow, Tenn., and later to German town where the command wintered. 
The march north was in the wake of our retiring army ; buildings and fences were 
burning and frequent detours had to be made to pass places too hot for comfort 
or safety of ammunition. I wish some of our ultra sentimentalists who are jjosing 
at the present day, and whose souls are full of metaphorical tears for the cruel 
acts of the American army, could have seen some of the gentle touches of the 
civil war. But most of these gentlemen, if of a suitable age, took extreme care 
to be absent from the scenes of ignoble strife. 

At Germantown Colonel Lee received notice of his promotion as brigadier 
general and took leave of the regiment. He was a fine officer, brave, dashing, 
and ambitious. General Grant commended him highly and placed him in com- 
mand of the brigade when General Sheridan was transferred to Kentucky. In 
a dispatch to General Halleck, dated November 11, 1862, General Grant said: 
"Colonel Lee is one of our best cavalry officers; I earnestly recommend him for 
promotion." Lieutenant Colonel Herrick continued in command of the regiment 
after Colonel Lee's promotion. While stationed at Germantown the regiment 
was almost constantly in the saddle, patrolling the roads and scouting far out 
into the country. A number of sharp skirmishes were fought, with unvarying 
success to our side. 

On the 15th of April, 18G.3, the Seventh Kansas moved to Corinth, Miss., ar- 
riving there on the 17th, and the next morning marched to join General Dodge, 
who was concentrating a considerable force at Bear Creek preparatory to a 
movement into Alabama. The army crossed Bear Creek on the 2ith. At Tus- 
cumbia the regiment attacked the rebels under General Roddy and drove them 
out of the town, carrying the place by a brilliant charge. The capture of Tus- 
cumbia was followed by the immediate advance of the cavalry brigade, under 
command of Colonel Cornyn of the Tenth Missouri Cavalry, an impetuous leader 
who hated a rebel as he did the devil. The enemy was met a short distance out. 
He opened upon the Seventh Kansas, leading the advance, with artillery, but 



26 Story of the Seventh Kansas. 

was soon driven back to within a mile of Leighton, where he made a determined 
stand with artillery strongly posted on an elevation to the left of the road. The 
Seventh held the left of the line and advanced against this position. The Tenth 
Missouri held the road with a mounted battalion, with the rest of the regiment 
deployed dismounted in the field on the right. A light mountain battery of five 
guns, supported by a battalion of the Seventh Kansas, was advanced close under 
the muzzles of the heavy cannon of the enemy and fairly smothered them with 
their rapid fire. Captain Utt at the same time led a charge of three companies 
around the left against their battery. Companies B and H judiciously swerved 
to the left and opened fire with their small-arms from the shelter of the timber, 
but Captain Utt led Company A square in the face of the artillery. It was 
another case of the sunken road of Chain; an impassable fence intervened, one 
of those straight fences bound together with hickory wythes. Captain Utt's leg 
was carried away and his horse killed beneath him by a charge of grape. The 
company was compelled to retreat. 

The whole command then assaulted and the rebels were driven back two 
miles beyond Leighton. Colonel Cornyn withdrew his cavalry at nightfall to 
Tuscumbia, where he lay until the morning of the 27th. This engagement was 
fought against a superior force, but the result was a splendid victory. General 
Dodge in his official report says, relative to this battle: "The command con- 
sisted on our part of the Tenth Missouri and Seventh Kansas Cavalry, about 
eight hundred in all, driving the enemy eight miles. The enemy's force was 
thirty-five hundred, besides one battery. The fighting of the cavalry against 
such odds is beyond all praise." 

A second advance was made on the 27th, led by Cornyn's brigade. The 
enemy was met in force and driven beyond Town creek. At that stream a severe 
engagement took place. The infantry supports came up and a heavy artillery 
duel, which lasted several hours, occurred. From Town creek the entire in- 
fantry command fell back to Corinth. The cavalry fell back to Burnsville, 
Miss., and then moved rapidly to the south. This last movement was in con- 
junction with the advance of General Grierson, just ready to start on his great 
raid through Mississippi. Cornyn's brigade moved on the left and in advance of 
Grierson. The enemy were soon met, and constant skirmishing was kept up un- 
til the command reached Tupelo. 

At this place, on May 5th, was met a strong force under the command of the 
rebel generals Gholson and Ruggles. The rebels were preparing an elaborate 
plan to capture our whole command, and they had the force to do it, but Cornyn 
did not do his part to make it a success. Instead of deploying at the bridge and 
being two or three hours forcing a crossing, the Seventh Kansas charged it in 
column, was over it in five minutes, and the enemy was caught with their forces 
divided. Company A of the Seventh came suddenly on the flank of a rebel cav- 
alry regiment moving down under the shelter of some timber to take the Tenth 
Missouri in a similar manner. Lieutenant Sanders attacked at once, and the 
surprised confederates were driven down on the Tenth Missouri, who charged, 
and the entire rebel regiment was captured. A number were killed and wounded 
and many of the prisoners bore marks of the saber that played a conspicuous 
part in this division of the fight. Company A lost but one man killed. Corporal 
Edwin M. Vaughn. While this fighting was going on General Gholson, suppos- 
ing their plan was meeting with success, came up through the timber on the left 
with his infantry to catch our column on the flank and rear and complete the 
conquest. He ran into the Tenth Missouri's mountain battery, supported by 
Companies I and K of the Seventh Kansas, and met a galling fire of double- 



Story of the Seventh Kansas. 27 

shotted canister and rapid volleys from the supporting companies. Company C 
charged in on his right flank and poured volley after volley into his charging 
lines. Gholson's infantry were largely raw levies and could not stand the cross- 
fire they were subjected to; they wavered, then turned and fled in a panic. The 
timber was strewn with corn bread and haversacks as far as our pursuit ex- 
tended. They did not attempt to follow when at night, according to plan, Cornyn 
fell back, nor did they molest Grierson's column as he passed. The loss of the 
enemy was heavy in killed and wounded, and the prisoners numbered several 
hundred, including a large number of officers. 

The regiment had permanent headquarters at Corinth after its return until 
January 8, 1864. The duties performed during the summer and fall of 1863 were 
arduous — scouting and skirmishing daily, and keeping a constant surveillance 
over the movements of the enemy. Many severe engagements with Forrest were 
fought, and the work was always well and bravely done. Until the fall of Vicks- 
burg, constant watch was maintained to prevent reinforcements going to Johns- 
ton. On July 11, 1863, Lieutenant Colonel Herrick was promoted colonel, and 
Captain Houston of Company H to lieutenant colonel. 

On the 26th of May, 1863, Colonel Cornyn, with a mounted force consisting of 
the Seventh Kansas, Tenth Missouri, and one battalion of the Fifteenth Illinois 
Cavalry, and the Ninth Illinois Mounted Infantry, moved towards the Tennessee 
river. The river was crossed at Hamburg during the night, and the whole force 
advanced towards Florence, Ala., the Seventh Kansas leading the advance. 
During the day two companies of the regiment made a detour to Rawhide, out 
on the left flank, and destroyed the large grist mill and the cotton and woolen 
factories located there and employed in manufacturing material for the enemy. 
The confederate cavalry were met about ten miles out of Florence. They con- 
tested our advance, but were easily forced back. Their pickets were driven in, 
but the forces composing the garrison of the place were found posted along the 
west edge of town supported by artillery. Their cannon were quickly silenced 
and the place carried by assault, and their entire force, which was commanded 
by General Villepigue, driven beyond the town. A large quantity of fixed am- 
munition and a number of shops making war material were destroyed, and seven 
large cotton and woolen factories were burned, also large quantities of corn and 
forage belonging to the confederate government. As the command moved out to 
the southward after nightfall it was attacked and a severe encounter took place. 
The enemy was driven off but returned to the attack repeatedly, and more or 
less skirmishing lasted during the night. A major and about fifty men were 
captured by a charge of a company of the regiment; after that the enemy be- 
came more cautious. The Seventh Kansas covered the rear while the brigade 
was crossing the river on the return, and repulsed several sharp attacks, and, 
finally, making a counter charge, drove the enemy back over a mile. The brigade 
returned to Corinth on the 29th. During this raid the Seventh Kansas was in 
the saddle constantly during five days and four nights, never resting more than 
two hours at any one time. 

Colonel Florence M. Cornyn, of the Tenth Missouri Cavalry, who commanded 
our brigade for several months, was a red-headed Irishman, absolutely fearless, 
of iron constitution, and untiring while in the field. He never stopped to ascer- 
tain the number of the enemy's force but attacked at once wherever he was met. 
His audacity always won out and never failed to score a victory. He was shot 
and killed by his lieutenant colonel in a personal encounter in the fall of 1863. 
The raids that we made under him were dashing and always produced great re- 



28 Story of the Seventh Kansaa. 

suits and it used to be said in discussing the forays that he lead, that "Solomon 
in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." 

It will be too long a story to go into detail in describing all the engagements 
which the regiment participated in during the season of 1863. It was a year of 
constant work and weary night marches, through mud and rain or stifling dust, 
and many sharp encounters occured with Forrest. 

It will be remembered that the year 1863 — the turning point in the war — was 
a season of great activity. In northern Mississippi Forrest was operating to 
keep reinforcements from Grant and Rosecrans, and the Union forces, which 
were really the outposts of Grant's army operating before Vicksburg, until after 
Pemberton's surrender, were constantly employed in scouting and watching to 
prevent reinforcements going to Johnston. Forrest was the most skillful of al' 
the confederate cavalry generals. He was almost ubiquitous, constantly on the 
move and, operating as he did in a country friendly to the cause of the South, 
gave us no end of work. Forrest never seemed to think the life of a man of 
much consequence when he had a purpose to accomplish, he exposed his men 
recklessly and suffered heavy losses, but at the same time forced the Union 
cavalry to frequently take desperate chances to offset his movements. In telling 
the story of 1863 one can give but little idea of the constant strain the little force 
in northern Mississippi was subjected to. The Seventh Kansas, nominally in 
camp at Corinth, spent very little time there : the raids into the Tuscumbia valley, 
to Tupelo, and across the Tennessee river to Florence, already briefly described, 
are but samples of the work performed until the regiment was veteranized 
and went north on furlough. After the fall of Vicksburg every effort was made 
to hold Forrest with as large a confederate force as possible in Mississippi and 
prevent his reinforcing Bragg. Movements to the north and east as well as to 
the east and south were made, and numerous affairs that entailed more hardship 
than loss of life resulted from frequent contact with the enemy, and many small 
encounters of more significance than appeared on the surface will be passed over 
in this story, in which only the most conspicuous affairs are described. 

On March 12th, 1863, a fight with Richardson near Gallaway station, Tenn., 
ended in a rout of the enemy. Colonel Looney, Major Sanford and Captain 
Bright of the confederate army were captured, together with a considerable num- 
ber of enlisted men. 

On March 16th, near Mount Pleasant, Miss., the confederates were whipped 
and their rear guard captured. 

On April 2-6th a series of sharp engagements occurred, which resulted in the 
defeat of the enemy. 

On September 30th Companies A and C attacked the rear guard of a confed- 
erate force crossing the Tennessee river at Swallow Bluffs, Tenn. The rear guard 
of the enemy, consisting of a major and thirty men, was captured. The fighting 
was severe. Our loss was one man killed and five wounded. The enemy lost 
several killed. 

On October 12th and 13th the regiment participated in a sharp battle with 
Forrest at Byhalia and Wyatt. The Seventh Kansas made a number of brilliant 
charges, and Forrest was eventually driven across the Tallahatchie with heavy 
loss in killed and wounded. In this engagement Captain Amos Hodgeman was 
mortally wounded while leading a charge against the enemy. He died on the 
IGlli. The fighting lasted three days, beginning at Quinn's mill, south of Colliers- 
ville, and ending with the severe cavalry battle at Wyatt, on the 13th. A num- 
ber of prisoners, including several prominent officers, were captured. 

That grim sense of humor that can see a joke in the face of death found an 



Story of the Seventh Kansas. 29 

opportunity for exercise here. Just as it was growing dark Major F. M. Malone, 
who was mounted and ready to lead a charge of the dismounted men of the regi- 
ment, rode out in front with the command, "Forward, boys, and we' 11 drive 'em 
. to hell !" and then he vanished from sight. A smothered and distant voice from 
the bowels of the earth at last indicated his whereabouts. Halter straps were 
spliced and let down and he was dragged up considerably jarred but not other- 
wise injured. A measurement was made the next morning from the surface to 
the saddle on the dead horse; the distance was over thirty feet. The well was 
dry and not walled and the caving earth probably broke his fall and saved the 
life of the major. The major was always sensitive and the use of the word " hell" 
in his presence was avoided after that. 

On December 1st the regiment was engaged at Ripley, with a superior com- 
mand by General Forrest in person. The Seventh Kansas had been sent out to 
retard the advance of the rebels on the Memphis and Charleston railroad. The 
action was severe and full of hardship and danger, but the confederates were 
held back and the Jayhawkers came off with honor. Major W. S. Jenkins was 
severely wounded in the head in this engagement. 

On December 24th a battalion of the regiment defeated a detachment of 
Forrest's command at Jack's Creek, Tenn. 

On the 1st day of January, 1864, while the Seventh Kansas lay in temporary 
camp below Wolf river, south of La Grange, Tenn., the subject of re enlisting as 
veterans was taken up. The men were bivouacked in the snow without shelter, 
and the weather was bitter cold; they were returning from a raid into Missis- 
sippi, and the last two days' march had been made through rain, sleet and 
snow. Before night over four-fifths of the regiment had signed the re-enlistment 
papers and stood ready for "three years more." The Seventh Kansas was the 
first regiment to re-enlist in that part of the army, and was the only Kansas or- 
ganization to enlist as a regiment and maintain, as veterans, the full regimental 
organization. The regiment at once moved to Corinth. On January 18th camp 
was broken and the command proceeded to Memphis where, on January 21st, 
the veterans were mustered to date from the first of January, 1864. The men 
who did not enlist immediately became known as the "bobtails." They looked 
sad as the regiment went aboard the transports to go north to their homes for a 
month's furlough, and a number, who could stand it no longer, re-enlisted at the 
last moment. The "bobtails" were assigned to other regiments and remained 
in the field and continued to do excellent service. They joined the regiment 
again on its return south in June, and served with it until their discharge. 

At Cairo the veterans were paid, and then proceeded towards Kansas by way 
of Decatur and Quincy, 111., and St. Joseph, Mo.; the objective point was Fort 
Leavenworth. The men enjoyed themselves on the journey, and made no end of 
fun. At Decatur, 111., the men discovered that the landlord of the eating station 
was charging them seventy-five cents for dinner, while he was charging civilians 
but fifty. The landlord was up against trouble at onee, and, realizing it, fled 
from danger and hid in the attic. He was soon found and dragged out, and, 
begging for mercy, promised restitution. Probably not more than a hundred of 
the men had eaten at his hotel, but the whole regiment suddenly assembled and 
fell in, and, when payment began, as soon as the man on the right received his 
twenty-five-cent shinplaster he would drop out and fall in again on the left. 
Had not the train for Quincy pulled out soon that hotel-keeper must have been 
a bankrupt. At Weston, Mo., the ferryman refused to cross the regiment to the 
Kansas side at the expense of the Government, because he had had difficulty in 
collecting pay for similar service. The captain of the boat was promptly set on 



30 Story of the Seventh Kansas. 

shore, Lieutenant D. C. Taylor took the wheel, while several men naanned the 
engines below. As soon as loaded, the boat swung out, made the crossing, and 
never knew that it had changed crews. 

At the landing above Fort Leavenworth the regiment was met by a delega- 
tion of Leavenworth citizens and received with honors. The men were accorded 
the freedom of the city; formal action in this direction was unnecessary, for the 
boys would have taken it anyhow. 

At the end of their furloughs the men assembled at Fort Leavenworth and 
again were paid off, and March 12, 186i, sailed towards Memphis. At St. Louis, 
however, the regiment was halted and went ashore and remained there in camp 
on the old Camp Gamble grounds until June 6th. Having been reequipped it 
moved by river transports to Memphis, Tenn. ,0n the 17th of June the Seventh 
Kansas left Memphis and moved out along the Memphis and Charleston railroad 
to cover the retreat of a portion of Sturgis' command, defeated at Guntown, 
Miss., by General Forrest. 

On July 5 the regiment moved from La Grange, Tenn., as the advance guard 
of General A. J. Smith's infantry column, starting south on its expedition against 
General Forrest. General Smith had detached the Seventh Kansas from Grier- 
son's cavalry division and given them the post of honor with the main column, 
which it retained until Pontotoc was reached and captured, and then on the 
never-to-be-forgotten 13th of July was trusted to cover the rear guard during 
the movement from Pontotoc to Tupelo. The advance from the beginning was 
opposed by the enemy in considerable force, but the Seventh Kansas kept the 
main road clear and the march of the infantry column was never retarded; the 
remaining cavalry force operated on the flanks. 

On the 10th a sharp fight was had with Barteau's cavalry and they were 
badly whipped and driven back, with the loss of five men killed and left on the 
field. Approaching Pontotoc on the 11th the enemy was met in force and a 
sharp engagement followed. He was driven back on Pontotoc with heavy loss, 
but General McCuUough with a brigade of rebel cavalry held the town. The 
Seventh Kansas was reinforced by a brigade of infantry and drove in the rebel 
skirmishers. Grierson's cavalry attacked at the same time from the east. The 
confederates were driven from their position and retreated in disorder, leaving 
their dead and wounded in our hands. The main force of the enemy was fortified 
on Cherry creek, about eight miles south of Pontotoc. General Smith rested on 
the 12th and gave General Forrest an opportunity to come out and attack, which 
he failed to take advantage of. Early on the morning of the 13th Grierson's 
cavalry was pushed rapidly to the east with instruction to seize a position at 
Tupelo, about eighteen miles distant. The infantry, followed by the train, 
pushed out immediately after, leaving the Seventh Kansas drawn up in line of 
battle waiting for the confederate advance. The attack came soon after day- 
light, and the regiment slowly fell back, contesting every inch of the way. For- 
rest had thrown his infantry forward to the east on a parallel road to Pontotoc, 
and sent his cavalry to our rear to pursue. Twice during the day he attacked 
in force from the right, but was repulsed by the Minnesota brigade guarding 
that flank of the train. 

To the Seventh Kansas, under the command of Colonel Herrick, had been 
assigned the duty of guarding the rear of the train against a 'division of cavalry. 
It was done, but how it was done is difficult to understand; it was the accom- 
plishment of a seeming impossibility. Every point of advantage was seized and 
held to the last moment. Squadrons were detached and fought in isolated posi- 
tions on the flanks, to give impression of a stronger force. Early in the day Com- 



Story of the Seventh. Kansas. 31 

pany A were dismounted and placed in ambush, at the risk of probable capture. 
They caught the confederate advance coming on too confidently and emptied 
many saddles, sending their advance regiment back in confusion. Company A 
regained their horses in safety, and this deed had a restraining influence on the 
confederate cavalry during the rest of the day. The enemy immediately brought 
up artillery and shelled the timber in advance, as a precaution against similar 
attempts. Company C fought once on the left in an isolated position until nearly 
surrounded and then cut their way out and escaped. The confederate advance 
was made in three columns ; if you checked one the others came on and threatened 
your flank. The Seventh Kansas covered the rear alone during the whole fore- 
noon; later, Colonel Bouton. commanding a colored brigade, dropped back to 
its support. During the day three distinct charges were made on the rear of the 
column, which were handsomely repulsed by the Seventh and Bouton's bri- 
gade. Forrest says in his report, relative to the conduct of the Seventh Kansas 
that day, "He took advantage of every favorable position and my artillery was 
■kept almost constantly busy." 

TJiis tells but little of the constant fighting done by the Jayhawkers from five 
in the morning until nine in the evening, when they passed to the rear of the in- 
fantry line of battle, formed to meet the attacks of the following day. Supperless 
the men dropped to sleep and lay as dead until the enemy's shells bursting over- 
head in the early morning caused them to turn, and at last one by one to raise 
up and utter maledictions at the "man that shot the gun." This day's work 
was one of the best that the regiment ever did and Colonel Herrick showed how 
much genuine stuff there was in him during the trying time when desperate 
fighting and skillful maneuvering were necessary to hold a much superior force in 
check. 

The Seventh Kansas with a portion of the cavalry division guarded the right 
of the line during the battle and was but lightly engaged. The battle of Tupelo 
was a bloody engagement and the confederates suffered terrible losses; some regi- 
ments were wiped out of existence. 

At noon on the 15th, General Smith began to move north by the Ellistown 
road, the Seventh Kansas taking the advance and skirmishing constantly until 
camp at Town creek was reached. On the day following the regiment took the 
rear and contended all day with McCuUough's confederate brigade until Ellis- 
town was approached; here a sharp, almost hand to hand engagement was fought, 
which resulted to the discomfiture of the enemy. 

During the afternoon Major Gregory, who had been sent back on an inter- 
secting road with two companies to guard against an attack on our flank, had re- 
mained too long and, as he finally came down through the timber that lined the 
road to join the main column, discovered that the head of the confederate cav- 
alry advance was passing the intersection of the roads and was pushing on rap- 
idly after the rear of our regiment. Gregory had not been seen and could have 
easily withdrawn his command and by making a detour regained the regiment, 
but that was not his manner of doing things. He instantly ordered his men to 
draw pistol and charge by file down upon and along the flank of the enemy. 
The movement was brilliantly executed, the confederate cavalry was taken abso- 
lutely by surprise, and our men rode by, Gregory bringing up the rear, emptying 
their revolvers into the rebel flank without a shot being returned. Many sad- 
dles must have been emptied, but our men were not waiting to count dead John- 
nies. With a parting shot they galloped across an intervening ford and rejoined 
the main column without the loss of a man. 



32 Story of the Seventh Kansas. 

From Ellistown the march was unmolested and the regiment arrived at La 
Grange on the 19th of July, 186i. 

On August 9th General Smith again moved from La Grange to Oxford, 
Miss. The Seventh Kansas, assigned to Hatch's division, moved on the 1st 
to Holly Springs. On the 8th a severe engagement was fought at Tallahatchie 
river, in which the regiment was engaged. The enemy was whipped and driven 
across the river in retreat. On the 9th heavy skirmishing continued eight miles 
to Hurricane creek, where the enemy was found in force occupying the heights 
on the opposite side. He was driven back with loss and his strong position car- 
ried. The pursuit continued to Oxford. At this point the enemy made a stand, 
supported by artillery ; he was again driven back with the loss of his caissons 
and camp equipage. Our cavalry force then fell back to Abbeyville. During 
this expedition a considerable portion of Oxford was burned by our troops. 
Much censure was heaped on General Smith's command for this act of vandal- 
ism. I wish to state here that the day this was done Southern newspapers fell 
into our hands glorying over the burning of Chambersburg, Pa. This was the 
first news that we had received of this act of incendiarism, and Oxford was 
burned in retaliation. 

On the 13th a second advance was made and Forrest was again found occupy- 
ing his former strong position on the opposite side of Hurricane creek. The 
Seventh Kansas was a part of Herrick's brigade which composed the left wing. 
The enemy's right was assaulted and driven back across the stream. In the 
meantime heavy fighting was going on at the left and center, where the enemy 
was badly beaten and forced to retire. This defeat caused him to withdraw his 
right, and Herrick advanced and occupied his position. The enemy retreated 
rapidly on Oxford and the Union forces were again withdrawn to the Tallahatchie. 
This last battle at Hurricane Creek was an affair of considerable magnitude; it 
was purely a cavalry battle, no infantry being engaged. 

Grim-visaged War, if not always able to smooth his wrinkled front, must even 
in times of stress sometimes let a crease or two slip down to the corners of his 
mouth to create the semblance of a smile; otherwise the monotony of solemn 
things wonld become too serious to be borne. A smile m'ay be permitted here, 
after two score years, and all about a pair of trousers. 

Just as this expedition moved from La Grange in the lightest of marching or- 
der. Captain Thornton appeared arrayed in a pair of buckskin breeches; "Not 
regulation," he said, "but durable." We had all recently returned from a simi- 
lar expedition with trousers showing many a gaping rift, created by thei constant 
friction of the saddle, and he would not be caught that way again, he said, not 
he. The day before the cavalry fight at Hurricane Creek it rained, and we were 
in the saddle during the downpour and thoroughly wet through, and Thornton's 
buckskin breeches, soaked and soggy, became a sort of tenacious pulp. That 
night he improvised a clothes-line and hung them out to dry. At early reveille 
he sought hie trousers; they were there. But you know what can be done with 
wet buckskin. Some evil-disposed person, under the cover of the night, had 
stretched them until they looked like a pair of gigantic tongs — they were twenty 
feet long if they were an inch. The cavalry battle of Hurricane Creek was 
fought that day, and Thornton led his company, but it was in a costume that 
must have made i)leasant to him the knowledge that the exigencies of war de- 
barred the presence of the female sex. There was a hiatus between the extrem- 
ity of the under garment that obtruded below his cavalry jacket and his boots. 
Thornton was a Scotchman, and we accused him of coming out in kilts. He 
turned his trousers over to his colored servant in the early morning and the faith- 



Story of the Seventh Kansas. 33 

ful darky rode that day in the wake of battle with the captain's breeches 
wreathed and festooned about his horse, industriously employed in trying to 
stretch and draw them back into a wearable shape. He reported progress to the 
captain's orderly (sent back frequently during the day with solicitous inquiries ), 
and by the following morning, after cutting off about five feet from each trouser- 
leg, the captain was able to appear in attenuated and crinkled small clothes, so 
tight and drawn that it was difficult to know whether it was breeches or nature 
that he wore. 

About noon, on August 23rd, Chalmers' cavalry division made an attack on 
our infantry outpost and met a disastrous defeat. The Seventh Kansas went 
out to reinforce, and when the enemy was driven back, pursued him to the old 
battle ground at Hurricane creek. Here a fight lasting over two hours took 
place, the enemy bringing a battery into action, but the regiment maintained its 
position until ordered back by General Hatch. Here was killed First Sergeant 
Alonzo Dickson, of Company H. A braver man never lived nor one capable of 
more daring deeds. 

On return to La Grange the regiment met orders to proceed immediately to 
St. Louis. It arrived there on September 17, 1861, and reported to General 
Rosecrans. It formed a part of the defense against Price, who was advancing 
north on his last raid through Missouri. When Price turned west, the Seventh 
Kansas moved out in pursuit, while our forces were being concentrated to drive 
him from the state. When the troops were organized the regiment was assigned 
to McNeil's brigade of Pleasanton's cavalry division. Skirmishing of more or 
less importance attended the advance across Missouri. On October 22 the enemy 
was struck at the Little Blue. He opened up with artillery, but was driven 
back on Independence, which place was captured by a brilliant cavalry charge. 
Two cannon complete and over a hundred prisoners were taken. Kansans must 
remember that the first sound of firing on Pleasanton's advance, that cheered 
their weary hearts and told them that relief was coming, was the thunder of the 
two cannon that played upon the Seventh Kansas as it charged in column up 
that long street through Independence, and with Winslow carried the confeder- 
ate position and captured the guns. Forty of the enemy's dead were left on the 
field. After an all-night march the confederates were attacked near Hickman's 
Mills, the engagement lasting the entire day, the enemy retiring at nightfall, 
leaving his dead on the field. On the 25th, at the crossing of the Marmaton, 
the regiment participated in the cavalry charge that routed the confederates ; it 
also took part in the subsequent engagement at Shiloh creek, and indeed in all 
the battles of the pursuit. 

From Newtonia, where the pursuit of Price was abandoned, the regiment re. 
turned across Missouri to the St. Louis District where it was divided into detach- 
ments and stationed at various points. Guerrillas were quite active, especially 
around Centerville and Pattison and the garrisons at these points had plenty to 
occupy their attention. Captain Jim Smith swept Crowley's Ridge and sent over 
twenty to their long home in one day's action. A mere boy, a member of Com- 
pany D, killed the guerrilla leader, Dick Bowles, in open fight, the guerrilla hav- 
ing the decided advantage, being behind a fence with a Winchester, while the 
boy dismounted under fire and kneeling in the open road sent a bullet from his 
Spencer through the brain of the desperado. Dick Bowles was as conspicuous 
in his neighborhood as Bill Anderson used to be in his. The headquarters of the 
regiment was at St. Louis during the winter and until moved to Pilot Knob. 
Early in July, 1865, the companies were concentrated at Cape Girardeau and on 



34 Story of the Seventh Kansas. 

July 18th moved by transports to Omaha, Neb. From thence the regiment 
marched up the Platte to Fort Kearney, and went into camp south of the trail to 
the southwest of the fort. 

The Seventh Kansas had fought its battles and its term of service was draw- 
ing to a close, but its story would not be complete without a reference to two or 
three enlisted men who bore a distinguished part in its history. There were a 
number of men whose fund of humor was never exhausted and whose bravery 
was always a subject of admiration. Conspicuous among this class was Ser- 
geant Morris Davidson of Company A, familiarly known by his nickname, 
"Mot.'' His quaint jokes are as fresh and funny to me to-day as they were two- 
score years ago. In '61 the original pilot bread was issued to the troops; it was 
modified later and an article of a less flinty sort was issued; but the original ar- 
ticle was something to be remembered. It was soon after enlistment when Mot 
broke a period of unusual silence while the boys were at mess, with the inter- 
rogative remark: "Boys, I was eating a piece of hardtack this morning, and I 
bit on something soft; what do you think it was?" "A worm," was the answer 
of the inevitable individual who stands ready with instant information. "No, by 
G — ," said Mot, "it was a tenpenny nail." Mot had a deficiency in the roof of 
his mouth, and the defect in his speech, like Charles Lamb's stutter, made his 
sayings seem much funnier than they show up in cold print. He was absolutely 
fearless. 

At Hurricane Creek he was sent with four dismounted men to scout across a 
gap between our left wing and center; a similar gap existed in the enemy's line 
and Mot crossed with his men over the stream and crawled up around the left of 
Chalmers' brigade which opposed us. He opened fire on their left rear from the 
brush, and the rebel leader thinking he was flanked, hastily withdrew his whole 
force and rapidly fell back nearly a mile and formed a new line. As our line ad- 
vanced and took position across the stream, Davidson and his men were met com- 
ing out of the brush, and then the cause of Chalmers' retrograde movement, 
heretofore a matter of mystery, became evident. "What on earth were you try- 
ing to do. Sergeant," was Colonel Herrick's remark, as he stored in astonishment 
at Mot and his diminutive army. "Trying to snipe 'em," was the sergeant's 
answer as he took his place in line. He had whipped a brigade. In the winter 
of '62-3, Mot was commanding a picket post of five men on Wolf river in Tennessee. 
It was a bitter cold night, and, although the enemy was lurking about. Mot and 
his men had built a fire in a hollow and were huddled around it trying to keep 
from freezing, when they received a volley from the brush on the opposite side 
of the creek, "Twenty-five men with me and the rest hold horses!" thundered 
Mot as he dashed alone towards the enemy, who immediately fled. 

Ira B. Cole, bugler of Company H, familiarly known as "Buck" Cole, was 
another fellow of infinite jest. Colonel Herrick, who never changed expression 
or smiled when a funny thing was said, nevertheless appreciated a joke in his 
own way ; he used to have Buck detailed as his bugler just to have him near, that 
he might hear his jokes, and Buck took advantage of the situation and played 
the court fool to his heart's content. He was notoriously sloven in his dress, 
but used to say " that ho was bound to dress well if he did n't lay up a cent." 
He was not always amenable to discipline, and once while he was carrying a log 
of wood up and down the company line as a punishment, was accosted by the 
chaplain, who had come for a book he had loaned Buck and had not been re- 
turned. The chaplain was a recent appointment, and as yet guileless, and when 
Buck suggested that he hold the log while he went after the book, the chaplain 



Story of the Seventh Kansas. 35 

absent-mindedly took it and, ten minutes later when the captain appeared on the 
scene, was pacing up and down, thinking over his next Sunday's sermon, with 
the stick still on his shoulder. Buck was found peacefully sleeping in his tent; 
he stated to the captain that he supposed the idea was to have the log carried, 
and as the chaplain was doing it he thought it would be all right. 

There were those who made jokes, and those who enjoyed them, and conspic- 
uous among the latter class was Elihu Holcomb of Company A, known in common 
as "Boots." No matter how serious and disarranged the surroundings. Boots 
always saw something to be amused at, and his mirthful laughter would ring out 
above the din and bring a smile to the face of Despair. A marked occasion was 
at Coffeyville when the confederates after having been whipped and driven for 
many days turned the tables on us and sent us back in retreat across the field to 
our rear. Boots deemed this to be an excellent joke, and during the retreat his 
laughter was easily distinguished between the crash of volleys as he gave expres- 
sion to his enjoyment. 

At Fort Kearney orders were received to proceed to Fort Leavenworth for 
final muster out and discharge. "Assembly" was sounded at once and the 
order read to the men. In lees than hour thereafter camp had been struck and 
the regiment was moving down the river on its final march towards home. Fort 
Leavenworth was reached on September lith, and on the 29th of September, 1865, 
the companies formed on the parade ground for the last time. They were for- 
mally mustered out and the following day received their last pay and final dis- 
charge. Their tour of duty was ended. 

I have called this "The Story of the Seventh Kansas," but the story of the 
Seventh Kansas will never be written — can never be written. The story of a few 
battles — not a tenth part told ; a sketch of many skirmishes — but briefly related, 
are mere suggestions of four years of energetic action, of hardship and suflfering, 
and of gratification that strength had been given to endure it ah. I have not told 
the story of marches under a mid day sun that beat down and seemed to shrivel 
up the brain as you gasped for breath in the dust beaten up by the horees' feet; 
of marches through mud and never-ceasing rain that soaked you, saturated you, 
until you felt that you had dissolved into a clammy solution yourself; of marches 
through winter storms of sleet and driving snow, without hope of shelter or rest; 
of struggles against almost irresistible drowsiness when sleep had been denied 
you for days and to sleep now would be death ; of weeks of tossing in the fever 
ward of a field hospital, where the oblivion of stupor came to you as a blessing; 
of thirsting for water when only brackish, slimy pools festering in the sun were 
near to tantalize you — this part of the story has not been told. The thrill and 
excitement of battle were wanting in all this; it was only plain, monotonous duty 
made endurable by the grim humor that jeered at suffering and made a joke at the 
prospect of death. ' 

Winter or summer a cavalry regiment in the field has no rest. Picketing pa- 
trolling, scouting; it is the eyes of the army and must not sleep. It leads the ad- 
vance or covers the rear; far away to the front, the infantry column, moving 
along without interruption, hears the dull jar of cannon, or the popping of car- 
bines; it is the cavalry sweeping the road. The fences torn down in gaps along 
the wayside indicate that the enemy had grown stubborn and the cavalry had 
been deployed. A dismounted skirmisher can lie down and take advantage of 
cover; a mounted cavalryman is an easy mark for a sharpshooter as he advances ; 
but he must take his chances, it is his duty. A cavalry regiment does not usu- 



36 Story of the Seventh Kansas. 

ally suffer a heavy loss in any one engagement; it is one here, two or three there, 
a constant attrition that is ever wearing away the substance ; it is the aggregate 
that tells the story. The dead are scattered here and there, buried by the way- 
side where they fell. Few have been gathered into the national cemeteries, but 
they rest as well, and the same glory is with them wherever they may sleep. ^ 



NOTE. 

Any member of the Seventh Kansas, or any other Kansas regiment that served 
in the civil war, in the "border troubles," in the Indian wars, or in the Spanish- 
American war, who can tell a story about any individual, any fight, skirmish or 
incident in which his company, his regiment or himself was interested, is invited 
to write it out and send it to the Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka. Tell 
it in your own way, but be concise as possible with names and dates. Such stories 
or sketches will be valuable for future historians. — Sec. 



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